Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Vivisectors - 2000-2003 Promo Version
 | Twenty seven demo tracks from Russia's latest instro outfit the Vivisectors. In some ways, they are all over the map, with some surf, some blues, some country, and a lot of garage or frat rock, yet they maintain continuity with just enough similarities so you know who you are listening to at all times. Some fine developmental music here, just waiting for a great studio recording. My absolute fave is "El Zorro Theme." |
Picks: Africa, Crazyness, My Girl, Psychotronic Generator, Go-Go, El Zorro Theme, Cemetery Boogie, Lone Dancer, Pigman, Pretty, White Truck, Transylvanian Train, Austin, Charlie, Keep On Truckin', Mom Blues, Somewhere In A Big City, Alien In A Government, Run-Run-Run!!, Cowboy Surfer, Good Time, Fried Chicken, Mad, The House Of The Rising Sun, Radio Spell, Monkey Hunter, Russki Psycho
Track by Track Review
Garage (Instrumental)
Whistling organ runs accompaniment for a sorta spy guitar line. "Africa" is a nicely written piece of music. Some fuzz, some shimmer, some mystery, some pumpin' drums and throbbin' bass. Cool track.
Garage (Instrumental)
the swirly Leslie gives "Crazyness" a sense of sixties spy spoofs. The riff is pretty minimal, yet it seems to work OK. The thickness of the track adds to the strange attraction.
Garage (Instrumental)
"My Girl" is a funny track. It is more or less a continuing riff, a rhythm dominated instro like many a reggae song or space drone. Its double picked hypnotic guitar, as well as the space metal chop chords a la Hawkwind are inviting. It's not often this sort of thing pulls me in, but this track does. Coolness!
Garage (Instrumental)
As the title might suggest, "Psychotronic Generator" seems ripe for a B-movie horror film score with a near-ska sensibility. Hypnotic and pretty cool.
Garage (Instrumental)
Like a pumpin' version of go-go singles of the early sixties, coupled with a spy-ish riff. "Go-Go" is a garage song with the style its title implies and a bit of horror too, plus some tasteful surf guitar lines.
Surf (Instrumental)
This track has great drums! they drive it through an almost Brazilian beat while the guitar plays a great melody line. "El Zorro Theme" is one cool song with a very infectious beat and a haunting melody. Outstanding!
Garage (Instrumental)
Heavy churchyard after midnight doings are chronicled in this aptly titled riff rocker. The feel of the sixties frat rock horror instro is captured well.
Garage (Instrumental)
Kinda like a lonesome "Comin' Home Baby," this track has a melodic sadness about it, yet also is pumped and edgy. Vibrato throbs and interesting blends of ideas.
Pigman Garage (Instrumental)
"Pigman" is a riff rocker with echoed drums and a grodie bar room brawl kinda sound. Gruff and ruff, with a basic sound.
Garage (Instrumental)
Based on a simple riff, "Pretty" is not pretty, but more like a sub-surf run gone to the alley. It seems like it's on the verge of becoming a fine surf instro with some reverb and more variation in textures and octaves. Kinda catchy, and relentless.
Cowboy Garage (Instrumental)
With hints of truck drivin' cowboy honky tonk, "White Truck" is the kind of song that would warm up the band before the front man comes out to woo the chicks. Just catchy enough.
Garage (Instrumental)
On the mean side, with some dangerous lurking shadows. "Transylvanian Train" is a little haunting, slightly unsettling, and yet friendly. Spooky graveyard rock.
Cowboy Garage (Instrumental)
If the title leads you to expect the twang of Texas or the intensity of those big guitars, you'll be in the wrong frame of mind. It does have "that beat," and it is kinda country cool. A tasteful riff with enough changes and atmospherics.
Garage (Instrumental)
After a threatening introduction, "Charlie" runs amuck on a tuff rockin' riff and steady beat. A garage frat bar room intro with power and intensity, and a thumpin' attack. The multiple guitar parts work well against each other, and the break is a good change from the main song.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Keep On Truckin'" is NOT a Grateful Dead anthem... it's a surfable vibrato twanged circular riffed instro with a dark and inviting melody line. A little more variation and it will be quite a fine surf instro.
Blues (Instrumental)
"Mom Blues" is a slow moving moody blues instro with subdued organ and long bass notes. Hinting of San Francisco blues bands circa 1967, it harkens to a sultry night and wincing guitarist. It has all the requisite torture to be a fine blues instro.
Garage (Instrumental)
Horns a-honkin' bring forward an organ infested riff rocker. The progression is not overwhelming, yet the variations and relentless nature of the track keep you focused.
Garage (Instrumental)
On the faster side, "Alien In A Government" riffs and rocks like there's a stranger in the DMV and only you know it. Some solid vibrato a la Sweden's Rumblers. Tuff and fun.
Garage (Instrumental)
A long intro eventually yields to a vibrato edged riff rocker, again with hints of the Rumblers and quite a bit of twang. Nice track.
Garage (Instrumental)
As the Leslie warbles, the cowboy rides a longboard across a wake. Not surf music at all, yet kinda cool despite the overwhelming level of the organ.
Surf (Instrumental)
Sparkling guitar in a long chord environment where the waves are just off the shore and the sun is setting. "Good Time" is optimistic, twangy, and very cool. This mid tempo song reminds me just a little of the eighties LA band the Wedge, but it's not at all derivative of that sound. Great track.
Country (Instrumental)
With checkered napkins for wipin' those fingers after the lickin' is all done, the Vivisectors make nice with a barn dancin' picnic prancin' good time song. Way too fun!
Garage (Instrumental)
Dark and spy-menacing, with churning Leslie, "Mad" is an angry song with an unsettling almost horror edge. Rough textured and pumpin' rock.
The House Of The Rising Sun Garage (Instrumental)
This is an interesting treatment of the blues classic "The House Of The Rising Sun," with big vibrato and throbbing fuzz lead. Powerful and graceful, dark and moody, and just grindy enough. Totally cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
A thin guitar and percussion start out like they are emanating from a table radio... after a verse or two, the full bodied sound comes forth, revealing the damped second guitar and whirly organ. The melody is attractive and very simple. Surfable with richly vibratoed guitar.
Garage (Instrumental)
A galloping beat launches "Monkey Hunter," but disappears in favor of a solid rock beat under a colorful riff and well suited organ. The melody line is excellent, and the haunting sound of the organ adds a reverent sense of danger to the vibrato guitars.
Garage (Instrumental)
The clock ticks off the seconds as the wacko gets ready to explode. "Russki Psycho" becomes a heavy dark epic with a mechanical beat and lots of power. Strong and menacing, with an interesting melody line. It continues to rise throughout the song, with some fine textural changes.