FREE SURF MUSIC

FREE SURF MUSIC #3 by ALAN JENKINS and THE THURSTON LAVA TUBE

[CORDELIA RECORDS 2006]

The name of the latest record by Alan Jenkins and his band THE THURSTON LAVA TUBE is a cool summary of what the listener can expect from this record. A weird and entertaining mix of variations of instrumental surfmusic ala TUBE. Imagine the Shadows on Caffeine playing the instrumental soundtrack for a fake documentary about the golden days of pre Beach Boys surfin craze . The CD contains 14 tunes ranging from Ummagumma like sound acetates to catchy surfnumbers. I picked some appetizers for you.

PS: Note that this CD contains various MP3 albums too !!!

[front cover showing a happy bride after listening to Free Surf Music #3]

Deer and Antelope in Las Vegas part two – Wow ! That`s the result when you give the drummer some speed pills..a fast and crazy drumbeat [is that jazz ?] sets the background for a Twangy Eurosurf melody line and a nervous refrain. Would like to see what happen to the people on the dancefloor when the DJ comes up with that tune..

I want Dick – A song which starts and ends with Horsesamples can not be a worst one. So, „I want Dick“ is perhaps the most traditional surftune on the record. It has all what the surfmusic friend loves: nice chordguitars, a rippin rhythm section and of course a great melody line. Needless to say that the LAVA TUBE adds some weird [moog?] sound effects to the track. Great surfmusic cinema here.

The slow fat pudding Explodes Naked – The first half of that song is dominated by a cheesy organ/guitar melody line and nice chord transitions...perhaps comparable to the spirit of the „Buzzzz, Buzzz, Buzzz“ bands. The second half features a staccato organ vs. Orgasm sounds [are they real ?] battle..inspiring. PS: Forgot to mention those crazy drum fill ins of course.

Grand Central – This your chance to lean back and relax. The song lives from an interplay between a relaxo drifting part with wide echoing guitar chords and a fast and rollin part, which would also work well in a 6ts punk soundtrack, you know rippin 3 chords, a guitar imitating a telegraph, some rattles`n`shakes + feel good guitar line. Music to relax to I would say.

I walk the lion – Hmm. Thats the sound when soemone walks „THE LION“ A grooovy mixture of Byrds guitars, some Doorsy organwork and the feel of some kinda „Walk Dont run“. I`m shure that this tune will be a floorfiller, especially when the whole thing highered up a note.

Talking Cat – Yes you reckognized it, heh ? One main topic of this record is Animals ! So in this track A. Jenkins & The Thurston Lava Tube let the cat speak. Looking at the guitarline I guess the cat must be a Shadows fan with an affectation for whammy organ chords. Some dogbarks in the middle make clear that the relationship between cats & dogs was, is and probably always will be a special one. The short but dramatic part at the end of the tune with that cool danger ! chords and the spooky theremin underlines that fight for dominance in the animal kingdom. Meeowww..wuffwufff.

Badly painted cheese – ohh, if I understand it right the message behind that song acetate has soemthing to do with overdriven fuzz and agentmovie inspired melodies. Evil cheese, you.

Deploy the Frog Exaggerator ! – It is like the old adage says...When there is Fuzz, Davie Allan couldn`t be far away. What I`m trying to say is that Deploy the Frog Exaggerator ! seems partly inspired by the songwriting skills of King Fuzz during the SKATER DATER era, including boosting the melody a note higher. But wait ! There`s something evil going on in the last minute of the track, again some danger guitar chords + weirdo synth-/organ sounds...calling agent fuzzzzz.

Harry E. – Puhhh. Time to take some breath. What can be better than a 51 seconds long piano, mono guitar blues...

Erotic poetry - .... seem to be widespread amongst drummers. In this case it sounds if Gene Krupa is having sex and plays drums at the same time...under the influence of some mindexpanding drugs [or good alcohol]. Go wild drummer boy !

What Moose ? – Spanish flavoured trumpets, a haunted xylophone, some weird saxophones over a nervous driven tribal drum beat and some edgy rhythm chords is what you will get when you ask “What Moose ?“.

The Governor`s Beach – is the last track on that outstanding album. It sounds like that the Gouvernors beach seems to be a good place to chill. Far away TWANG guitars, a moody organ and some wave samples will put a grin on the face of every dictator...eehmm gouvernator.

Okay, dont hesitate and visit CORDELIA RECORDS for some more fine stuff !!

COMIN` HOME BABY...