Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Bradipos IV - Instro-Mania!!dotdotdot
artworkThis is the first full length release from Italy's Bradipos IV. There's some really nice surf here, and even more northwest frat rockin' instros. Slightly muddy sound sometimes dampens the energy, but the spirit is there, and where the surf is present, it does reward the wait.
Picks: Intro, Mysterion, Tijuana Stomp, Forbidden Island, Surfin' Sloth, Work Song, Dirty-Phonic, Barracuda, Brainless Girl, Stompin' Tune, Prisoner In Orbit, Positano, Carmela, Kissin' Bonobo Roll

Track by Track Review


Intro dotdotdot
Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

Think Jimmy Smith meets Booker T. & the MG's at the beach... with some stuttered "bu-bu-bu-bu bird rock" utterances. But, but unremarkable.

Mysterion dotdotdot
Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

Hollywood studio styled playful fare, with a progression dominating. Nice tones, solid balanced arranging, just no melody to speak of. East side surf guitar breaks and club sax leads. A really nice slide in the break.

Tijuana Stomp dotdotdot
Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

Jazzy groove and suave twang. It's a simple progressional thing with a cool groove and a friendly feel.

Forbidden Island dotdotdotdot
Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

An "Intoxica" like structure and a definite Pachuko Soul groove would have made this perfect fodder for the Ray Beats, were they still around. The lap steel and guitar work are simple but really effective. I like this track a lot. Moderately paced suave.

Surfin' Sloth dotdotdotdot
Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

A slow sultry tropical flow inhabits this saucy track. Nice backdrop to a stroll on the beach at sunset just out of the lights at the bungalow party.

Work Song dotdotdot
Jazz MOR Surf (Instrumental)

This almost MOR feeling arrangement of the Nat Adderley jazz classic is more than MOR might imply. It's the restrained delivery that speaks MOR, where as the arrangement is interesting, balancing the whistling organ against the surf guitar. It ends up being a pleasant piece.

Dirty-Phonic dotdotdot
Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

Sweetly fluid dim lights backdrop to intimate dinners and a bottle of pink Chablis. Great keyboard tone.

Barracuda dotdotdot
Euro Spy (Instrumental)

"Ed (Fournier) Spy" is a melodic tune with a gentle mystery about it. I can imagine what a kinetic arrangement from a band with chemistry would do with this.

Brainless Girl dotdotdot
Euro Spy (Instrumental)

Pedestrian movie theme rendition.

Stompin' Tune dotdotdot
Euro Spy (Instrumental)

Another well written Ed Fournier tune, begging for a hot performance. This is a solid track, just shy the essential magic.

Prisoner In Orbit dotdotdot
Euro Spy (Instrumental)

An Ed Fournier tune, sad and melodic. A lot like a tamed down "Goldfinger," this has plenty of magnetism, but not enough staying power due to the "studio" nature of the tracks.

Positano dotdotdot
Euro Spy (Instrumental)

Standard pre-go-go fare. The sax work is quite nice, though quite sparse.

Carmela dotdotdotdot
Euro Spy (Instrumental)

High stress instrumental, with a nervous organ in the back, and a subdued lead. This lies somewhere between the Challengers and the Shadows in the emergency room. Intense and magnetic.

Kissin' Bonobo Roll dotdotdot
Northwest (Instrumental)

Frat rockin' surf 'n' swirl. Non melodic, but pretty chunky. Another northwest influenced piece.