Reviews
Los
Fantasticos
(Hang9)
****Los
Fantasticos play music that's not for the trad purist, but it has a
real surf foundation in its guitar tone and dribbling glissandos.
Think about what GT Stringer did wit the merger of surf and jazz.
This isn't like that except in the combination of elements. Where GTS
played with sax and psych, Los Fantasticos use surf to interpret jazz
ideas and sophistication, but never leave the rock'n'roll foundation
of surf too far behind. There's lots here for the open minded.
Picks: The
Associate, Moroccan Roll, Johnny Got Made, Bringing Georgia To Mind,
El Pichon, Maracana, A Short Song About Killing, Contessa Del Fuego,
Tilting At Windmills, The Whites Of Their Eyes, The Smell Of Neoprene
In The Morning, Paint It Black
The
Associate ***
Busy drums
and shiny surf tone develop a very non-surf structure with glissandos
and moody bass. It's interesting how surfable the song is, given
that's it's entirely outside the norm. Engaging.
Moroccan
Roll *****
Reverbed chop
chords and a mysterious desert air held together by flowing
glissandos and a nifty melody. There's a lot here - changes - tone -
imagery - and adventurous ideas. "Moroccan Roll" is a splendid track
that's daring and aquatic.
Johnny Got
Made ***
With a
Zappa-esq intro and mathematical melody line, this track's precision
and circular riffology give it a friendly feeling when coupled with
the reverb. Quite cool!
Bringing
Georgia To Mind ****
Great drums
open and carry "Bringing Georgia To Mind" throughout its tenure,
while a moody melody portrays a gloomy day on the beak. This fine
track is a splendid example of just how surf a very adventurous idea
can be. Great reverb tone and gray-green walls combine for a stormy
and risky ride.
El Pichon
***
The slow
picturesque flow of "El Pichon" has a softly sunset feeling. The
fretless bass gives this a sophisticated edge, while the reverb and
lush chords portray a traditional palm lined shore image. Very
nice.
Maracana
****
Superb drums
and lovely guitar lines seem to bring moody jazz to the brine. It's a
bit angular and mathematical, yet it flows with a lovely image and
liquid reverb sound. Very cool!
A Short
Song About Killing ****
A country
beat runs beneath a slightly sad melody in a structure that reminds
me of Monster Pete and the Chiefs. On the dark side, or perhaps just
shy of optimistic, "A Short Song About Killing" sounds nothing like
the title might suggest, and it grows on you.
Contessa
Del Fuego ****
"Contessa Del
Fuego" moves slowly across your senses in an effortless blend of
gentility and after dark invisibility. gentle and pretty, and quite
sensual, like a wisp of a flowing gown just above the perception
threshold. As the fuzz comes forth, the danger becomes clear, but for
most of the song, it's not more than a suspicion. Very well
done.
Tilting At
Windmills *****
Soft and
lightly flowing, the two guitars play gently off one another in the
intro, but as the tribal drums come on with great emotional drama,
the melody morphs into a tidal swell of raw feeling. "Tilting At
Windmills" really connects if you let it, like one of those edge of
tears scenes in a film. Very visual and human.
The Whites
Of Their Eyes ****
Large and
edgy, with a heavier sound than most here, "The Whites Of Their Eyes"
is a fastish number with a sense of forward motion and rising drama.
Quite nice.
The Smell
Of Neoprene In The Morning *****
In a play on
Apocalypse Now i name only, this song sports gentle drama and
imagery. The drums are very good, and the melody and rhythm very
expressive, delivering a gradually soaring and sailing swell of
emotion, amped by the bass. The borrowed lick from "Eight Miles High"
is a stroke of genius. The fuzz section is quite powerful. The
interplay between the guitars is superb.
Paint It
Black *****
Los
Fantasticos do quite a sophisticated surf arrangement with this song.
It's attractive, powerful, and engaging. Plenty of changes
throughout, from surf to fuzz to wah-wah. Wonderful! It's really
quite something to realize how many surfbands have done versions of
Mick Jagger and Keith Richard's "Paint It Black." It was from an era
when rock'n'roll songs had melody, and that didn't take away from
their stark edge and emotion.
Phil
Dirt - Reverb Central
Brighton's
guitar four-piece return for their second album after Return Of The
Leopard Man. It is characterised by some great guitar sounds and the
tight, snappy playing we have come to expect. This is exemplified on
Moroccan Roll and Johnny Got Made, with Abe Mohsin's sharp snare
shots and Paul Lawrence's cascading bass runs providing the setting
for guitarists Tim Self and Django Deadman whose choppy, echoed
rhythm chords underpin crisp clear lead work on decent melodies.
Bringing Georgia To Mind is a more expansive, flowing ballad and El
Pichon a slower, quieter theme. In fact the only track I can't handle
is The Associate which I found far too edgy for an opener - skip
it!
Tim's
Mariachi trumpet sets the scene for the tastily exotic Maracana and
the multi-paced A Short Song About Killing is pure spaghetti western.
Contessa Del Fuego and Tilting At Windmills are full of sad,
post-kill reflection while The Whites Of Their Eyes is a lively, edgy
piece. Neoprene opens out with references to such spaced-out
influences as The Byrds' Eight Miles High. It's the perfect
introduction to the group's fine arrangement of The Stones' Paint It
Black which climaxes this excellent set.
Alan
Taylor - Pipeline
Their first
album was a cracker and this set moves on in both the band's writing
and their musical structure. Not as melodic as past material but more
a clever adaptation of twangy 60's guitar to today's complex
songwriting. Smart stuff here without drifting away from the guitars
and drums basis - except for the addition of a trumpet on "Tilting At
Windmills." There's a dramatic nature to much of the album try "EL
Pichon" for example or the almost medieval, Wishbone Ash culture of
"Short Song About Killing." Not an album you'd pick up on during the
first playing, but it enriches with repeat listenings. Excellent
musicianship from guitars, bass and drums all through. ***
Davy
Peckett - "New" Gandy Dancer
Who are
they? We look
out across a sandy landscape. It could be a beach with the tide way
out, but there is no seaweed. Through the hazy blur of heat rising
from the sand, four figures emerge on horseback riding towards us,
guitars in hand. As they fill the screen the jagged drums and reverby
guitar launches into the first track, "The Associate", the words "Los
Fantasticos" are scrawled in red on our screen, probably in Italian
if it wasn't already in Spanish! Yes, this is the second and self
named album from the Brighton twangsters and although it still has
all the trappings of surf instrumental music, twangy guitars, heavy
reverb, pounding drums, nothing after the opening track really
conjures up images of tanned dudes hangin' ten or babes on the
boardwalk. Nosireebob, this here is set firmly in a dusty town on the
Mexican/American border is the old west….or at least the Sergio Leone
version of it, in the Andalucian desert!
What's
good?
Moroccan Roll moody, atmospheric and the perfect background for the
scene where the bandits flee after breaking into the bank. Very
impressive it is too.
Johnny Got
made has a really cool tune and some impressive noodling from Tim
Self on his big purple Gretsch, while Bringing Georgia To Mind, El
Pichon, Maracana and Contessa Del Fuego are more slow moody aural
psycho-dramas in the style that Los Fantasticos seem to have cornered
so well. A Short Song About Killing continues the "Western" theme
with some choice country style picking.
The Whites of
Their Eyes shows the band can really kick some serious butt when they
choose too, and the fabulously named The Smell of Neoprene in the
Morning with some licks copped from No Time Like The Right Time and
Eight Miles High segueing superbly into The Rolling Stones Paint it
Black, its Eastern sounding riff somehow fitting perfectly into the
sound painting created by the previous tracks. It sounds like it it
shouldn't fit, but damn it, it does, like a glove.
There are so
many "surf" instrumental bands in the world, it takes something
different to stand out. Los Fantasticos have that in spades.
What's
bad? Well,
nothing much except it's pretty serious stuff so not a barrel of fun.
It's a moody album, so you have to be in that mood. If you are, it's
brilliant.
HangNine
Rating: PDG
with AB bits.
Riff
Randall - HangNine
Cesare
Gorgeous Presents... Return Of The Leopard Man (Hang9)
****This is a
very sophisticated and lovely disc, with exceptional writing and well
thought out arranging. I'm impressed!
"Tierce de
Picardi" ***
Rich guitar
and sad trumpet launch this dramatic piece of music. Once into the
song, two guitars play around each other, rhythm playing a "Brand New
Cadillac" riff while lead plays an original melody. Solid and on the
dark side.
"(Theme
From) Return Of The Leopard Man" *****
Groovy muted
guitar and twangy whammy chords, liquid reverb and a tweaky surfin'
spy sound colorfully create intriguing interplay. Soft and yet
twangin' tuff. Very cool!
"All Along
The Promenade" ****
"All Along
The Promenade" is a strolling kind of song with a tone and and
friendly guitar lines. heavy at times, fluid at others, it holds your
attention and is very nicely arranged.
"Sleep
Walk" ****
Santo and
Johnny's ever slithery "Sleep Walk" is done in a simple easy surf
style that's very complimentary to it. Simply lovely!
"Town With
No Name" *****
"Town With No
Name" is soft and moody to the max, like a gentle Gabor Szabo or
perhaps Harvey Mandel ballad. This very slow and sensual piece lulls
you into a relaxed state, whether you want to go there or not.
Beautiful! That's part one. Part two speeds up with a cowboy beat
that's just too cool! A great track!
"Liz's
Dream House" ****
Pomp and keys
and big drums and jazzy bass, then a soft and lush piece with a
sinewy bass line that seems to hold it together. As it grows to be
heavier, it leaves tranquility behind in favor of drama. This is
serious music, or maybe perfect soundtrack material.
"Crazy
Lady / High Velocity" *****
"Crazy Lady /
High Velocity" is a pure joy, with splashy surf guitars and a warm
Austin style melody. Edgy, powerful, and very attractive.
"Man Turns
Animal" ****
Surf and rock
and progressive and classical seem intertwined as "Man Turns Animal"
unfolds. It grows on you as time passes. It's sort of mathematical,
yet quite fluid.
"Olympic
White" *****
Ultra low
lead guitar, a cowboy beat, and a sinewy sound that's very inviting.
"Olympic White" is a superb piece of music that's engaging and very
pleasurable. Imagine Jet Harris surfing to Guam.
"Sofia"
****
"Sofia" is a
slow and pretty song with a tasteful melody line and sad imagery. A
lovely creation in tux.
"Sergio"
*****
Tremolo
shimmer and long chords bring on a very pretty sequence of notes
before becoming a wonderful surf instro with real charm. gentle and
dramatic, and very fluid!
"El Mar
del Amor" *****
"El Mar del
Amor" is a jazzy surf stroll down a foggy beach in search of a love
lost. Like some of the better seventies prog, it moves through its
paces with art and sophistication. The long leaning bass note at the
end is really neat. Excellent!
Phil
Dirt - Reverb Central
Who are
they?
Brighton (UK) based surf instrumental band put together by guitarist
Django Deadman, (the proprietor of the HangNine website - hence my
appearance here as guest album reviewer, I suppose it would have
lacked credibility if Django had reviewed it himself). The other
members of the band are Tim Self – guitar, trumpet, lap steel, Paul
Lawrence – bass and Abe Mohsin – drums.
What's
good? There
are a lot of very good original tunes on here, and the arrangements
are all interesting and effective. They’re particularly good at the
slow dramatic spaghetti-western flavoured stuff, “Tierce de Picardi”
and “Sergio” for example, occasionally aided by some
sketches-of-spain trumpet. Tim also varies the texture with some very
nice lap steel here and there. There’s a curiously frantic version of
“Sleepwalk” which works very well, although you have to imagine you
were dreaming about chasing rabbits. For some reason I can’t quite
pin down there’s something very English sounding about this album –
it occasionally makes me think of The Monochrome Set - remember
them?
What's
bad? The
production is a little on the clean side for surf music. Possibly it
could have benefited from having the guitars a little louder in the
mix?
HangNine
Rating: AB
(Absolutely Brilliant)- Some of the best UK surf music you’re likely
to hear.
Alan
Jenkins - HangNine
Brighton's
always been a good town for surf music recordings and here's a new
band with echoes of Dead Man's Curve and they produce an excellent
sound on their debut album of highly polished and exciting originals.
The only cover is a superb, non-derivative version of Santo &
Johnny's "Sleepwalk". Title track is a real thriller and "Olympic
White" with it's switch from Bob Bogle sounding lead to Jet Harris's
thunder bass is another crackerjack. "All Along The Promenade" is
pure Davie Allan. The originals are crafted very well and not just
yer average 12 bar fillers - the boys have worked hard. There's a
chunk of Morricone in here somewhere on a production which is
exhilarating. This is one of the best debut albums we've heard in
like, forever. ****
Davy
Peckett - "New" Gandy Dancer
It was a sad
day when Dead Man's Curve went their separate ways, but Jon Deadman
is now one of two guitarists leading Los Fantasticos - the finest
instrumental act in Brighton according to their manager. I can
certainly vouch for their full-value live performances and one
highlight, a superb version of Sleepwalk, is a feature here on their
debut CD. In addition to guitar Tim Self adds lap steel as well as
occasional trumpet so, with a predominantly original set, the band do
offer something a little out of the ordinary.
Tim's
mariachi trumpet heralds the opener which then launches into a Brand
New Cadillac riff and some rock & roll soloing. Olympic White is
a twangin' jog along western theme, Crazy Lady is a good number with
a catchy hook and the atmospheric standout piece Sergio builds up the
tension beautifully. But most of the tracks are about setting and
mood than delivering a stunning melody. The title track features
reverb chords and All Along The Promenade sports a fuzz lead - the
variety of guitar sounds allied to the band's all round attack is a
delight to hear and promises well for the future.
Alan
Taylor - Pipeline
This debut
album by the local four-piece is pretty well done, in a B-movie
soundtrack, trumpet-and-twangy-guitar type of way... it sure succeeds
in making you want to dance in a Jack Rabbit Slim's Twist Contest
stylee.
Meatbreak and Tony J - The Brighton
Source
Los
Fantasticos are a four-piece band who are "without doubt, the finest
instrumental act in Brighton" - or so says Cesare Gorgeous, the
band's manager. I'd be inclined to agree on the strength of "Liz's
Dream House", a ripe and melodic number. "Crazy Lady/High Velocity"
is of the same mould and equally appealing...
The
Insight
Mexican
Whistler
(contribution to the Beyond The Sea compilation on Cordelia
records)
****This is
really nice. Los Fantasticos play this with a delicate artistry that
makes it very enjoyable. Beautiful, well mixed, and very well adapted
to the idiom.
Phil
Dirt - Reverb Central