"Escapades In Space"
The Surfites
Double Crown, 2008
(Review by Jeff
Berkwits)
In the early 1960s, just as
the first astronauts began orbiting the earth, the surf music craze reached
its height. Whether that's coincidence or not is debatable, but it is safe
to say that, despite numerous rosy predictions at the time, humanity hasn't
yet
begun to truly surf the stars. That fact alone makes this inventive instrumental
concept album, which brings to mind that go-go era, simultaneously evocative
and futuristic.
The 15 tracks (plus
a brief bonus cut) take the listener on a remarkable out-of-this-world
journey, blending vintage surf guitar sounds with Space Age-inspired melodies.
Numbers such as "Comet's Tail" and "Danger Ahead" affectionately recall
the fun lounge-tinged tunes that accompanied such fab 'Supermarionation'
TV series as "Thunderbirds" and "Fireball XL5," even as compositions like
"Space Mover" and "Around The Galaxy" evoke a more traditional sand-and-sun
vibe. While mankind may not be riding the solar waves just yet, the extraterrestrial
twang and imaginative verve of this recording make such excursions seem
not only plausible but also altogether pleasurable.
Buy this album from
The Surfites
Website>>>
A long-time aficionado of retro music and film, Jeff Berkwits
has covered vintage sounds for numerous publications and websites including
Bachelor Pad Magazine, Filmfax, Outré, and
Amazing Stories. He regularly comments on classic melodies and movies
via Twitter at www.twitter.com/reviewdujour.
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