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From now on, the main page at HangNine will feature recent reviews and anything else current that takes our fancy. Reviews will eventually be added to our extensive archive.

HangNine now has a MySpace site. Pop along and become a friend of HangNine.

First, though, a short explanation of our new rating system:

AFBOM - A guitarist friend, frequently asked, "What did you think of the band?" felt it best to avoid answers of the, "Not much, to be honest," variety and always picked on something positive to say. This might have been, "Great chorus to the last song," "Loved the guitar sound in that first number," or even, "The drummer's trousers are really cool." Favourite of the lot, though, was, "Fine bunch of musicians," which became something of a catchphrase round our way. Not really our kind of thing.

NBAA - Not bad at all. Our kind of thing - worth a listen.

PDG - Pretty damned good. If you like this genre of music, you will probably enjoy this.

AB - Absolutely brilliant. Most of this is very good. If you like this genre of music, you won't regret buying/seeing this.

AFB - Better even than absolutely brilliant. All of this is very good. If you like this genre of music, you really should buy/see this.

Surfer Joe Summer Festival - Calafuria, Livorno, Italy - 24-26/07/09

What is it? Rapidly becoming regarded as one of the world's foremost surf music festivals, Surfer Joe is the brainchild of Lorenzo Valdambrini, who, with the assistance of brother Luca, has brought together a great setting and a fabulous line-up, while managing to make the whole thing free, by persuading numerous high-profile companies to sponsor the event.

The venue at Calafuria is a restaurant with a large terrace, perched on a Tuscan cliff, overlooking the Mediterranean, which provides a stunning backdrop for the main stage, from which we are wowed over three days by Hot Rod Surfers, the Bradipos IV, The Pipelines, Psycho Surfers, The Wadadli Riders, I Fantomatici, Rev Hank (from The Urban Surf Kings), Los Twang Marvels, The Kilaueas, Pollo Del Mar, Cowabunga Go Go, Les Arondes, Los Coronas and The Madeira. Facing the main stage is a second, smaller stage, where bands fill in the gaps between the main acts. From here we are (mostly) entertained by Rodeo Clowns, Ex Presidenti, Jumpin' Quails, The Hangee V (pick of the bunch on this stage), The Shuffles and Doctor Legume Et Les Surfwerks (apparently the only one man surf band, although there are, at times, three of them!).

Incidentally, the most played tune of the weekend appeared to be The Wedge

What's good? The music: There's something for almost everyone here. Covers (Hot Rod Surfers), trad-surf (blisteringly played by Les Arondes), something a little more gritty (Cowabunga Go Go from Hungary - who even get the drummer to pay bassist Hula Girl's guitar with his sticks, Dick Dale style), Lorenzo in many guises (front man and singer with Beach Boys tribute, The Pipelines, guitarist - with wife Nikki on bass - in the Wadadli Riders and - again with Nikki - as drummer for Rev Hank; this latter apparently completely unrehearsed, which was impressive) and something a little more outre from Pollo Del Mar. There's also three of the finest instrumental acts you could wish to see in The Bradipos IV, Los Twang Marvels and The Madeira.

Best of all, though, one of the best bands I have seen of any type; Los Coronas. Elsewhere, Ivan Pongracic, Madeira guitarist, has commented that watching Los Twang Marvels reduced him to tears and I must report that Los Coronas had the same effect on some in the HangNine party. Their blend of surf, spaghetti, mariachi and rock brought the house down (OK, we were outside, but you know what I mean) and they did the trick where the two guitarists play the left hand part of one another's guitar, while simultaneously playing the right hand part of their own: simply awesome.

What's bad? The breakdown in organisation on the Saturday night, which saw Pollo Del Mar take to the stage sometime after 3:00 am, by which time I gather that many people had left the venue. I'm afraid to say that a combination of the late hour, the sunshine and several Moretti beers saw me tucked up in my hotel bed by this time and also caused me to miss the estimable Kilaueas, who didn't play until after 2:00 am. Fortunately, Pollo Del Mar managed to squeeze a second, truncated, set into the Sunday programme.

The setting. Stage in front of the sea; what could be better for surf music?

The weather. But this is Italy in mid-summer, so what did you expect?

HangNine Rating: AFB. I'm already looking forward to the next Surfer Joe.

Jon Deadman 

The Thurston Lava Tube - Year of the Dog (Cordelia)

Who are they? When a band (and one of their girlfriends) has slept in your house and taken you out for a splendid breakfast the next morning, it's hard to think badly of them. When they are "psychedelic, experimental, surf instrumental band from Leicester" The Thurston Lava Tube and they make an album as good as this one, it's pretty much impossible. Apparently, this is the band's first album in four years, although I find it impossible to believe that four years have passed since the last one, The Thoughtful Sounds of Bat Smuggling. Alan Jenkins (guitar), Blodwyn P Teabag (organ), Marshall Cavendish (bass) and Matt Bartram (drums) are on splendind form here; twanging guitars, fuzz, organ, great tunes, great covers, organ, eccentric song titles and more organ: what more could a reviewer want? Well, just for good measure, you get three videos thrown in and a couple of MP3 versions of Lava Tube gigs (apparently, smilar live extras are also included on the last two albums, but since the band ommited to tell anyone about them, it's unlikely that many people have heard them!).

What's good? I must start with the videos. One is a pretty straightforward, recording of the band playing Don't Borrow Dominoes From A Black Man (whyever not? On the rare occasions that I have needed to borrow dominoes, I have been pretty unconcerned as to the skin colour of the lender), another a pretty informative and very funny piece in which Blodwyn introduces us to some of her favourite compact organs, but pick of the bunch is a hilarious (and very cheaply made) accompaniment to the version of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust found on the album. If you don't know the words to this song, the effect will be totally lost on you and you will think that you are watching a random selection of stills. If you know the words you will be rolling in the aisles: genius.

The audio content is also exceptional. Favourites being the fuzz laden The Hitler Goat Fuck, the aforementioned Don't Borrow Dominoes... Action Dog (particulalrly the psychedelic wigout section in the middle) and the closing The Poisoned Porn Variation, which is more fun than the opening The Poisoned Pawn Variation, if only for the orgasm noises.

Great cover versions too. I think I have commented before that Pipeline gets covered rather too often, but this version is very good, while I wanna Hold Your Hand and Ziggy Stardust are fantastic.

What's bad? If you like your surf music on the trad side, The Thurston Lava Tube may not be quite your cup of tea, but you'd be missing out.

HangNine Rating: AFB. Visit the Cordelia website for more details.

Jon Deadman 

The Razorblades - Twang Machine (General Schallplatten)

Who are they? Killer three piece instrumental surf band from Germany. We liked their last album, but having just seen them play live in our hometown and finally realised just how great they are, we like this one a whole lot more. The album features a host of high octane twanging guitar instrumentals, which only very occasionally veer a little more towards rock than rock'n'roll. Interspersed amongst all of this instro mayhem are several rather lovely slower numbers.

What's good? Rob Razorblade (Martin Schmidt) is an awesome guitarist, up there with some of the very best of modern exponents of this music, and he's ably assisted by his two compadres, Regina on drums and Ray on bass.

Some great titles (Hit The Shit Out Of It, Grease Your Hair And Get Tattooed, Trouble With The Style Police, The Lonely Record Collector and, best of all, Thanks For The Offer, But I'll Cry In My Beer Instead).

The last album featured lots of jokey between song bits, which we really rather liked. However, Martin tells us that we were firmly in the minority on this point and they've been toned down here, although there are still a few.

Favourite tunes? Life's Too Good To Waste It Away, Adrenalin Twist, Grease Your Hair and Get Tattooed, Hey Little Punk Girl (it really DOES sound punky), Fast And Loud (which is, you've guessed it, fast and loud and features some heroic double-picked guitar and bits where they shout "Fast and Loud," which is cool), Thanks for the Offer, But I'll Cry In My Beer Instead, which is just gorgeous. To be honest, though, there's not a duff tune here.

What's bad? While the album sounds great, perhaps some of the sheer power of the Razorblades' live sound is lost in the recording process, but I'm just being picky now.

HangNine Rating: AFB - stick this on your iPod now, you will want to hear it often. Visit the Razorblades website for more details.

Jon Deadman 

The Razorblades/The Squadron Leaders - Brighton, The Prince Albert 11/04/09

The Space Agency - Hove, Sanctuary Cella 12/04/09

Who are they? This was to have been one of the greatest weeks in Brighton's distinguished gig history. As a rule, gigs by twangsome instrumental bands are as rare as hen's teeth, but ain't it just typical that three bands should turn up in the space of two days? Added to that, the splendid Supersuckers played the next night at the Concorde 2 and Agent Orange are due in town in the middle of the next week. The only thing wrong with all of this is that French Fishermen decide to blockade channel ports, thus stranding Agent Orange in France and preventing the perfect week from happening. Never mind; I had a great time at the other shows anyway.

The Squadron Leaders are usually a three piece instrumental band, featuring guitar, sax and drums, plus pre-recorded bass and some rather nifty little pre-recorded between song bits. Tonight the sax player is AWOL, but they perform splendidly anyway.

The Razorblades, from Germany, feature Rob Razorblade (aka Martin Schmidt) on guitar, Regina Razorblade (are you noticing a theme here?) on drums and the improbably hirsute Ray Razorblade on bass. I had the good fortune to meet Martin at last year's Pipeline convention, where Los Fantasticos were playing. The band were then booked for this year's convention and Martin approached me to see if I knew of anyone who could find them a date as they made their way from Germany, via Nottingham, to the convention centre in Bushey. Fortunately, in the guise of Brighton's very own punk promoter extraordinaire, Buz, I did.

The Space Agency fetaure Simon Jones, formerly of psychedelic surfers Vibrasonic, on guitar, Hiromi Fukuzawa on bass and Andrew Bowler on drums. Due to the fact that Hiromi is Japanese, the band have not in the past spent as much time together as they might have hoped, despite releasing three albums, and live shows have been a rarity. However, Hiromi is currently in England and they're playing live, although, as Simon explained to me, they're still working out which of the recorded material works well in a live setting (it's just as well that he explained this, because I never would have known).

What's good?

The Squadron Leaders - every bit as good as we have come to expect, although I'm somewhat conflicted about the absent saxaphone. It is usually the dominant part of the band's sound, but without it you really do get to hear just how great Steve's guitar playing is, which is a nice bonus.

New Girl At The Burlesque remains my favourite tune: so atmospheric.

The Razorblades - high octane, twanging, rock'n'rolling surf instro really doesn't come much bettter than this. Martin is a guitar player of quite extraordinary talent, while Regina and Ray add all the balls that are needed.

Martin's haircut (he's so proud of it!), his tattoos (likewise) and the fact that his Fender Jaguar is lake placid blue; one of my favourite colours.

Some nice covers too: Hawaii Five-0, Misirlou, Surf Rider and Apache. I know that the Pipeline audience like to hear a few familiar tunes, so some of these may have been in the set for their pleasure. Our gain though.

The Space Agency - Simon is another fantastic guitarist, although in a somewhat different way than Martin. Much of the material is quite laid back, almost loungey in places and there's a very 60's European feel to lot of it. They play two sets tonight, featuring Simon on Mosrite in the first and Jaguar in the second and he coaxes gorgeous tones, dripping with reverb and tremolo, from them both. He also does some great behind the bridge paying on the Mosrite. Hiromi's six string bass playing is similarly dextrous and all three band members combine to produce a quite exquisite sound. Are you sensing that I like them? You're right.

What's bad?

The Squadron Leaders - no sax (I told you I was conflicted about this!). I also kinda miss the RAF uniforms and maybe even the Dambusters March.

The Razorblades - well, they look like an odd bunch, who shouldn't really belong in the same band (or possibly universe) together and I'm no fan of ultra-modern looking five string basses, but when they whip up a storm like these guys, it seems churlish to comment on it.

The Space Agency - well, nothing at all really.

HangNine Rating: AFB - despite the best efforts of the French Fishermen.

Jon Deadman 

Further Beyond The Sea (Cordelia)

What is it? Long awaited follow up to the Beyond The Sea compilation of a few years back, brought to you by the splendid Alan Jenkins at Cordelia and in which, "The surf instrumental bands of the world miraculously extend their repertoire." The first album presented surf bands from around the world covering (supposedly) unlikely tunes. Some of those tunes were a little less unlikely than Alan would have liked, so this time they had to be tunes from post 1990, although this rule has been less than vigourously applied in a few cases.

What's good? There is certainly a far more eclectic selection of material than on the previous release. Particular favourites (and I won't be making any mention of my own band, Los Fantasticos, doing Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out Of My Head) are Los Banditos' take on Depech Mode's Personal Jesus, The B-Sea Surfers revealing the rather unexpected beauty in the Libertines' Up The Bracket, Alan Jenkins' own band, the splendid Thurston Lava Tube, whose version of the Spice Girls' Wannabe is typically bonkers, Russian Dance by Gulag Tunes and The Lost Boys of Penzance taking on The Fountains of Wayne's Stacy's Mom.

The album closes with The Glasgow Tiki Shakers proving that Oasis' Champagne Supernova is a much better tune (as opposed to song) than I had ever realised. Biggest surprise of all, though, is that I really like bloody Elton John's The Circele of Life (from the bloody Lion King, for Chrissakes!) as performed by the Swamp Collers. Now that really was unexpected.

Lovely artwork, as we have come to expect from Cordelia.

What's bad? On any compilation of twenty-two tracks, there will be some that you will probably skip after a hearing or two, but that's only to be expected.

HangNine Rating: AB - Visit the Cordelia website for more details.

Jon Deadman 

Long Boards - Motorhythm (El Toro)

Who are they? Follow up release from Spain's Long Boards, to first album, Big Surf, which you'll find reviewed in our archive. Once again, this album features some sparkling originals and a handful of covers (Link Wray's I'm Branded and Mr Guitar, along with Harlem Nocturn and Lullaby of the Leaves).

What's good? As we've come to expect from the splendid El Toro, this is another quality release. Longboards play really well, have a great sound and some of the faster numbers are particulalrly impressive, with our favourites being Motorhythm (which the band obviously like too, since it appears twice!), Delmar, I'm Branded (this won't surprise anyone who knows of our Link Wray weakness), Lullaby of the Leaves, Old Race Car and Le Mans.

The really rather nice choral opening to Mothra.

Two tracks (I'm Branded and the second version of Motorhythm) are in mono: this is the kind of retro-chic of which we wholeheartedly approve and they sound no less good for it.

What's bad? For understandable reasons (postage cost and the tendency of the damn things to crack), many CDs get sent out for review without jewel cases, but we like jewel cases - El Torro, take note!

HangNine Rating: AB - Visit the El Toro website for more details.

Jon Deadman 

The Madeira - Carpe Noctem (Double Crown Records)

Who are they? Latest band to feature the considerable guitar playing skills of former Space Cossacks frontman, Ivan Pongracic. If you know the sound of the Space Cossacks, or have been lucky enough to hear either of the earlier Madeira releases (which somehow we have not been!), then you'll know to expect music of the highest qwuality from this album. You're unlikely to be disappoiunted.

What's good? Grandeur (Carpe Noctem itself), maniacal double-picked mayhem (Wreak Havoc, Rolling Thunder, The Saracen), several nice tunes perched somewhere between two more of Ivan's major influences, the Shadows and the Atlantics (Undercurrents, El Flaco, SOS) and a couple of more acoustic and reflective numbers (Infidel and End of the Circle).

Six-string bass guitar - we like six-string bass gutar!

What's bad? Not a whole lot really.

HangNine Rating: AFB - Visit the Madeira website for more details. Then buy this album. then stick it on your iPod. Modern surf of the highest order!

Jon Deadman 

The Incredible Mr Smith - Adventures In The Land Of Twang (General Schallplatten)

The Razorblades - The Dark Side Of The Beach (General Schallplatten)

Who are they?Two albums from Germany, featuring guitarist and jolly nice chap Martin Schmidt. The Razorblades are a high-octane four piece surf instrumental band with some great tunes, while Adventures in the Land of Twang is basically a solo album from MArtin,featuring the wondrous drumming of Dusty Watson.

What's good? Not only do the Razorblades play some mighty fine and twangsome numbers, they also specialise in very funny between song snatches of dialogue (our favourite being, "Hey guys, I got a question. you don't look like a surf band, do you play in a metal band too." To which the only reasonable answer would seem to be the band's chanted, "Fuck off.") On top of all this, they can do moody, laid back and tender too, at least in places (try out Girl In The Front Row or Love Hurts But You Can Dance Your Pain Away). We can't wait to see this band in the UK next year.

Adventures in the Land of Twang features twenty-one collaborations between Martin and uber-surf-drummer Dusty and a much wider pallete of sounds and styles than the Razorblades album. There's some really rather beautiful slide playing (pick of the bunch maybe being opener Gimme My Second of Fame), rock'n'rollers, plenty of surf-style twanging and plenty of between-song banter too.

Lovely packaging.

Dusty Watson.

What's bad? Adventures in the Land of Twang is around 70 minutes long. We tend to like our albums a little shorter.

In places, the rock'n'rollers on Adverntures in the Land of Twang teeter rather close to heavy metal.

HangNine Rating: AB - Visit the Razorblades and Incredible Mr Smith websites for more details.

Jon Deadman 

The Veterans - The Veterans (It's Alive Records)

Who are they? Side project for Andrea, from Italian punksters The Manges. It certainly sticks pretty close to that band's Ramones template, but brings in a somewhat more obvious vocal-surf influence, with covers of the Beach Boys' Be True To Your School, the Surfin' Lungs' Oceanside Park and Surfer's Holiday from the 1964 movie Muscle Beach Party. The Surfin' Lungs provide backing vocals on Be True To Your School, Oceanside Park and Hula Girl, while Chris Pearce also adds organ on these tracks and ukulele on Hula Girl. At this point I should declare an interest, since the Lungs recorded their parts in my studio (and you may even notice my rather rudimentary lap-steel playing on Hula Girl!).

What's good? Great songs, great energy, great playing and great fun.

What's bad? That lap-steel player!

HangNine Rating: AB - Visit the It's Alive website for more details.

Jon Deadman  

The Illuminoids - Secret Society of Surf Guitar (Suppressed Records)

Who are they? A very nice sounding band with a long list of influences listed on the CD cover. Most of the usual instro-suspects turn oup on this list, although they are keen to emphasise their love of The Shadows and the Atlantics and a clutch of more recent bands too.

What's good? Some nice originals and covers of El Cid, Theme From Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Ghost Riders in the Sky. There's also a tribute to Ivan Pongracic, formerly of the Space Cossacks and now of the Madeira, in the shape of The Czar of the Surf Guitar.

A nice mixture of the slightly more uptempo and the more European-Shadows end of things.

What's bad? Guitar sounds apart, this album has the veneer of a very modern production, somewhat at odds with the material.

HangNine Rating: PDG - Visit the Illuminoids website for more details. 

Jon Deadman