Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Vegas Beach - Dark Side Of The Beach
 | Six tracks from Vegas Beach. Their music is dark eastern European gothic sifted through the sands of the Nevada deserts, or perhaps like the "Munsters on mushrooms."
Vegas Beach is Ricky Las Vegas - guitars, Michael Ratt - bass, and Dave Kimpton - percussion. |
Picks: Mercyfunk / Desert Run, Elvis At The Border / Calling Mr. Floyd, Summer Nite In Hollywood, Savaneta, Motown Cowboy, Midnite Vegas Blues
Track by Track Review
Dangerous Desert Space (Instrumental)
Dark and dangerous, "Mercyfunk" is a heavy fuzz adventure on a rutted dirt road. A funky beat, almost like Travis Wammack's "Scratchy" runs beneath this heavy Southwest desert epic. "Desert Run" is a spacy and picturesque piece of music, with references to Hawkwind and Epitaph, among others. This is splendid!
Elvis At The Border / Calling Mr. Floyd Dangerous Desert Space (Instrumental)
"Elvis At The Border" plays in a distant swirl on exotic drums and sultry bass. Fluid and pretty, but also cold and foreboding, with a sense of a journey about to be cut short. "Calling Mr. Floyd" is a floating semi-Floydian song that is both pretty and desperate.
Dangerous Desert Surf (Instrumental)
Slithering through the wee hours of a Melrose night, "Summer Nite In Hollywood" is pretty and melodic, and a little sad. This is a very surfable melody, with a sense of long smooth swells. A very nice track!
Dangerous Desert Surf (Instrumental)
This is a pretty and haunting song with a sound that flows right inside. On the sad side, and bringing forth images of post-storm swells rolling in towards the beach, "Savaneta" runs with a liquid flow and cautious warmth. Excellent!
Desert Surf (Instrumental)
Cactus and soul, haunted stereo guitars and a disco beat. "Motown Cowboy" is a mighty cool instro, soft and low key, fluid and sad, and emotional. Sometimes tribal drums, long whammy chords, sultry sounds. Great!
Dangerous Desert Space (Instrumental)
This is another interesting song in a softer and melancholy vein. Echoed chords add a sense of the city to "Midnite Vegas Blues." A pleasant track.