It's finally here: the comeback record after 8 years following their last comeback record Psychsploitation. They've refocused back on a trad surf sound with a simple, melodic riff-based focus. For a 3-guitar lineup, they keep it surprisingly organized and patient, with those extra layers just making that surf sound deeper. Listening to this on vinyl (more on that in a sec), the combination of those three guitars in unison with a great natural reverb, and top-notch engineering is heavenly for a trad surf guitar nut. That's helped by a perfectly recorded bass compliment, and some explosive drums. It sounds like a faithful vintage surf record with all the fidelity those records rarely get.
Blog Stuff
the barbwires - you son of a beach (searider)
LOS FRENETICOS - New kind of beat (el sonido que perdura)
los straitjackets - shake and pop (What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Los Straitjackets)
The telestons - Ekavi's Motorcycle (Poseidon Knows)
bambi molesters - Double Danger (sonic bullets 13 from the hip)
link wray & the wraymen - raw-hide (link wray & the wraymen)
the champs - Mau Mau Stomp (Everybody's Rockin')
the sentinals - latinia (big surf)
the turks - baja (surf-age nuggets)
Two big ol' brand new ones here: the new Man or Astro-Man.... live album and the brand new Los Straitjackets.... Nick Lowe cover album.
There's also brand new AND ORIGINAL material from The Deep, The Isotopes and the Telestons as well as semi-new stuff from The Mentawis, Beach Craft Bonanza, Los Daytonas, Viernes de Hongos, WJLP, The Apaches and The Pulltones. Probably some others too, but that's a long enough list!
The Deep are a trio from Germany that, despite the simplistic surf-ish cover, have a lot of big ideas. This is not your 60's surf by a longshot, taking more cues from moodier groups like Bambi Molesters or maybe the Mermen and focusing a bit more on sound than an infectious beat. The result is cinematic, somewhat psychedelic, and a surf record that engages your frontal lobe a bit more than your lizard brain. If you're a fan of the Aussie band The Break then this might work well for you.
Regretfully it wasn't until the end of the year that I actually sunk my teeth into The Isotopes' 2016 release Overstay Their Welcome. Looks like they're already back with a new one, and this time I'm paying attention.
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STORM SURGE OF REVERB
is a SURF & INSTRUMENTAL ROCK & ROLL radio show on
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