Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Mustard Allegro - The Swindon Oasis EP
 | The Swindon Oasis EP collects tracks from Mustard Allegro, an unlikely name for a surfband. indeed, they use surf elements in their music, but they owe more to industrial than surf structurally. This is an interesting set of music, especially if you're willing to go off the main track of surf and understand-enjoy the likes of The Amino Acids' "Fear The Future" or wonder why a slow sludgy version of eighties jangle never evolved. |
Picks: Great White, Screamer, Wave Machine
Track by Track Review
Industrial Surf (Instrumental)
A relentless slow beat hinting at industrial precision provides a counterpoint to a floating and pretty melody. The tension between these disparate elements creates the kind of tension The Mermen so gracefully create. Shouts of warning punctuate from time to time. "Great White" is a really cool track!
Industrial Surf (Instrumental)
Rolling drums and pumping bass present a solid foundation for a modest melody line that's not exactly fluid, and is artfully at odds with the rhythm section.
Industrial Surf (Instrumental)
"Sidewinder" seems to me fluid in delivery, but mechanical in structure. It's an interesting combination. Imagine surf through the eyes of a post modern industrial band, but with real instruments.
Industrial Surf (Instrumental)
The percussion here is very interesting, as is the bass. The guitar's flowing moodiness seems emotional and deliberate, while the Theremin adds a sci-fi edge. "Wave Machine" is a track with some intriguing things going on.
Theme From Mustard Allegro Industrial Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very short sequence, the sort of thing that usually appears between tracks. It's too repetitious to be interesting on its own.