Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Vivisectors - Cemetery Boogiedotdotdot
artworkThere are some very nice tracks on this disc, especially "Baby, Please Don't Go!." The Vivisectors have two styles on this CD, fuzzy sorta biker rock, and vibrato laden mid-tempo surf 'n' swirl, the latter of which I like a lot.
Picks: Cemetery Boogie, Maranguanga, Move Your Body, Baby, Please Don't Go!, Dream, Fat Cat, Besame Mucho, Frankie Stein, Grave Girl, Are You Sure, Coffin Joe, Clear Water, Tex-Mex, Pigman's Vacation, On The Road, Desert Waves

Track by Track Review


Cemetery Boogie dotdotdot
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.

Maranguanga dotdotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

"Maranguanga" is a great song with throbbing vibrato and a sense of space. maybe a little like a gentle Link Wray number, this track engages your ears with its simple power and charm.

Move Your Body dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

Complete with chorus, "Move Your Body" is a fun track with a dance floor feeling and a surf underbelly. An interesting combination.

Baby, Please Don't Go! dotdotdotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

A great beat and powerful arrangement drives this wonderful track. It may be inspired by the great R&B number with the same name, but it has its own sound and style. "Baby, Please Don't Go!" sports thick guitar and a psychedelic sound. So completely rearranged, it might as well be original, if it's not. Wonderful!

Dream dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

Slow and plodding, with a sorta of moody oddness about it. Surely an original sound here. Vibrato guitar and a unique rhythm track.

Fat Cat dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

"Fat Cat" is a bluesy jam. Not really different, but a pleasant blues break.

Besame Mucho dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

Consuelo Velasquez's classic "Besame Mucho" is fuzzed out and exotic, with a smooth edginess. On the dark side, yet not depressing or sad.

Frankie Stein dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

Rich drums and organ swirl pump beneath a vibrato guitar lead that portrays monsters in the dark. Mid-tempo and very cool.

Grave Girl dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

"Grave Girl" moves to a garage beat via fuzz guitar and a plodding stomp rhythm. It's angular and well titled.

Are You Sure dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

Shimmering with vibrato, "Are You Sure" serves up a good melody line and sound. It's simple, yet very agreeable. Mid-tempo soothing.

Coffin Joe dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

A dark biker fuzz kinda song with very square-wave guitar tone. A rock instro that is on the grungy side.

Clear Water dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

This is atmospheric and fluid, with shimmering vibrato and a gentle melody. "Clear Water" is easy to listen to, and well suited for a glassy afternoon.

Tex-Mex dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

I'm not sure what the title has to do with the song, but "Tex-Mex" is a rockin' riff based song with edge and fuzz and energy in mind. Not fast, just large.

Pigman's Vacation dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

"Pigman's Vacation" has some interesting moments, with great percussion and surf chords, but it's also more a riff rocker than a song. I love the drum work.

On The Road dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

This is a garage rockin' iron horse kinda song, with a definite open road posse feeling. Intense and well drummed, "On The Road" is a motorcycle song with edge and a sense of destination unknown.

Desert Waves dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

A kind of "Pink Panther"-ish song with surfy guitar and enough interesting melody elements to keep it interesting. The up and down whammy notes are very cool, creating an uneasy sense of unreality.