The Compadres hail from Ecuador playing fun-in-the-sun trad surf rock. It's got a nice helping of reverb, some nice use of whammy bar here and there, a lil' farfisa, the sound of waves on the shore... all contributing to music for a nice day. While I definitely tend to lean towards the fast and loud songs in most bands, I really think their slower track "Atardecer en la punta" is doing something interesting.
You can give it a listen on bandcamp as well as Google Play, iTunes, Deezer...Read more
Intóxicos have been playing live since 2013 and have finally released their first LP "Vila Velha Todo Dia". It's got a wide range of themes and ideas with solid guitar work throughout. I particularly got a kick out of their attempt to make Intoxica more intoxicated in their self-titled track "Intóxicos".
They've also got a pretty fun pixel art video poking fun at the old California Games video games.
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For those with weak spanish, these 9 songs were recorded live at place named "Pub Interview" in Bariloche, Argentina. So don't expect an interview, expect fast, loud, and chaotic surf tunes. For a live recording everything comes out sounding pretty nice and gives them a rawness that might have been missing from some of their previous material.Read more
Germany's The Coconuts play by-the-books trad surf originals with the exception one of one reggae-influenced track (influenced is the key word, still for surf fans). The slower tunes were just as pleasing to me as the fast ones, with solid guitar melodies throughout backed up by energetic percussion.Read more
The band that mixed the Pennsylvania Dutch with surf has now thrown horror into the mix. Really though, this EP only really goes for the spooky vibes on the title track and "La Culpa", the rest is solid trad surf. They've got physical copies on the way to the manufacturer, but in the meantime you can hear and download the songs on bandcamp
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Expressway Sketches is comprised of a group of accomplished jazz musicians that found themselves falling into a surf rock habit. Which lead to the LP you have here. From the bits that I've heard, it sounds like it should be comfortable listening for a lot of surf fans, with moments where it warps a little and brings you into jazz territory.Read more
Melbourne's Beware! Black Holes have a nice mix of covers and originals here with a classic reverbed surf sound. This is simple trad stuff, just how ya like it.Read more
Marshall and the Martins have a blisteringly fast release cycle going, but please don't stand in the way because it seems to be working. This is the best of their stuff so far, with clean but punchy production and great variety. If they're going for something fun and bouncy, it bounces, if it's slow and creepy like the title track, it creeps. It sets out what it wants to do and the results and satisfying!
On a side note, since we last posted about Marshall and the Martins, their...Read more
The name Aquaholics rings a bell for me, but I can't decide whether it's this band or the still active Dallas-based band. The description on their bandcamp page reads
"Recorded @ Sonic Iguana. Mastered by Mass Giorgini
The band started in 2006. Uploaded for upcoming 10 year anniversary. The band broke up before the album was ever finished or pressed."
That...Read more
A tsunami... of panties... the imagery....
Panty Tsunami has a good mix of quick dangerous songs and slower, dare I say sexier songs. Including a cover of Angelo Badalamenti's "Wild At Heart". There's even a sort of country influenced track "Red Sky".Read more
Though this is the first time they've hopped onto my radar, Greaser's Garage is Melvin and the Creepers' 2nd LP. Inside you'll hear some gritty and tough instrumentals with some wild squeals and occasional fuzz. Pay as you want on bandcamp
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The Phantom Operators have been cranking out songs like mad. This time we're in the desert, at least for two songs. Expect an unfriendly, shady sound on this one. And if you like it, they're pay-as-much-as-you-wantRead more
Out of nowhere, Hypnotide appear and release a dynamite LP. Landlocked jumps from great high energy tracks to moody and mysterious slow ones to sleazy, dry stuff effortlessly and cohesively. A pleasant surprise for my Saturday afternoon.Read more
This Machine Kills Monsters have a sound all unto themselves. Metal and surf rub up against each other plenty, but TMKR seem to grab the speed and intensity of metal (and perhaps the drumming) and otherwise stick with modern surf tones and structures. Like The Madeira cranked up to unsafe speeds. On a quick listen, this might be my favorite work of theirs so far: more emotive, more ambitious, and more interesting instrumentation choices, with a big satisfying finish.
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Genki Genki Panic is a twosome comprised of guitarist Chancho and drummer El Fatsquatch. A little while ago they had a six-song demo EP up, and it's nice to hear how those songs have progressed into a much more polished product, and of course it's nice hear the new tracks that came along the way. If you like horror surf it's well worth a listen.Read more
Ferni's first EP was released back in November of last year. He's a one-mand band, though you wouldn't know it by listening. This one's got a narrative to it (roughly Google translated)
In a Pacific island, a few kilometers from the coast, on a yacht, an evening party (Looped Party) is celebrated. Here the guests dance naked in a lustful
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Wow! The\Les Vice Barons released two great LPs back in the 90's and since then I would have presumed they were done. But here we are with a brand new EP. Four songs, including a great version of The Model. I wonder of Kraftwerk knows that their tune has somehow become a surf standard. Anyway, this one's great: it sounds gigantic, and there's some great organ playing all over it.
Here's the bandcamp stream
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It's been a good while since the Invisible Surfers' last LP "Till That Day" and it's great to see them back. They've changed - a lot less fuzz, a lot more traditional reverb-drenched sound, but they've also stayed the same - aggressive, quick-picked, adrenaline-minded. You can give a listen to the previews and purchase it over at CDBabyRead more
The Tarantinos NYC have a new LP out chock full of film soundtrack surf covers. They've been at it for a while though, and they're starting to dig pretty damn deep - a few covers that I certainly haven't heard! They've also written a few originals! I've only heard a few of the samples on CDbaby, but it sounds like it's got a good punch and a good traditional surf sound. You can grab it on...Read more
The latest from Green Cookie! The Surfin Barmaids started recording their first LP wayyy back in 1998 and they're still kickin out solid surf tunes today. This one's got a good mix of originals and covers. It's also got a limited run 10" vinyl release accompanying it.
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