Death by kowabunga bunga! Swami John Reis and The Blind
Shake pay tribute to the classic surf and rock ’n’ roll instrumentals
of the 1960s and update the genre for today’s more
extreme, modern surfer. Thirteen original modern surf compositions
create this tidal wave of booming tom toms, skronking
saxophones and a chaotic surge of guitars. Let this south swell
topple you, and may you be pinned in its undertow of reverb.
Swami John Reis uses a similar aggro guitar approach to his
playing in Hot Snakes and Night Marchers but allows the influences
of Omar Khorshid, The Ventures, Link Wray, Randy
Holden’s Fender IV and forgotten instro combos rise to the surface
for air. Joining Swami is Minneapolis’s The Blind Shake
(Goner Records, Castle Face), a bombastic power trio consisting
of guitar, baritone guitar and drums whose sound has
been described as “muscular psych punk.” This collaboration
generates a symphonic wall of twang, amplifying the cinematic
sense of drama and tension with the addition of saxophone,
doumbek, piano, riq, vibraphone and piano. To capture the essence
of this vibe, some of the initial tracking was recorded under
Crystal Pier (San Diego) by Ben Moore utilizing a mobile
recording VW van.
Because of the intense rhythmic velocity achieved on many
of these tracks, Modern Surf Classics can also be recommended
to those interested in BMX, roller skateboarding, snowboarding
/ toboggan, fighting, yoga, car racing, military and most other
water activities (with the exception of SUP).
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