Surf Rock Never Die

 

Sometimes I wonder in which corner of the world there are no musicians who have a deep love for surf-rock and psychedelic, form a band and release a record. This thought crossed my mind when I heard the debut Skeleton Ranch by Los Palms, an Australian band from Adelaide who musically venture into the 1960s in California and Texas. On their debut album we get surf, western and classic sixties psych of the unexciting kind. All played very true to style with their own touch. A lot of reverb and a bit of fuzz, always more committed passages as well.  What more could you expect from a psych record.

The Surfing Magazines

A band named after a song by Robert Forster can't be bad was my first thought when I first noticed The Surfing Magazines and I started further investigations. The band contains a half of Slow Club and two third of The Wave Pictures and they play guitar music influenced by Americana, Surf Rock and Velvet Underground. Not the hottest new thing but garage- and surf-rock how it should be.

Girls Of 1926

It is about a year ago when I first noticed Chorusgirl in my in-box. From the first time I listened to their sound I fell in love with their sound. Chorusgirl is a German/English collaboration formed a few years ago. What made me love them was that they combine a lot of influences from the last decades. Mastermind and singer/songwriter Silvi Wersing takes some surf sounds and combines it with the sound of Cure and JAMC. Spindly bass lines, catchy hooks and guitar riffs sharp as knives. Seldom heard a band that combined post-punk with pop like them. As far as I know they are on a road to get better known month by month. For me it is still a record that will company me during the summer.

This Year's List 4/15

La Luz is a Seattle-based band that brought us back surf sound like Link Wray and The Ventures made famous on their first regular LP Weirdo Shrine. Added with ingredients by The Ronettes and The Chrystals. Nothing really new but I love this record and played it during the last summer. Brian told me that La Luz is big at his place and well known their live appearance. Just music that makes you a good mood and could be played almost any time. Sadly missed their concert in autumn. Therefore their music still makes fun.

La Luz - Sleep Till They Die
La Luz - Don't Wanna Be Anywhere
La Luz - I Wanna Be Alone (With You)
La Luz - Black Hole, Weirdo Shrine

This is a rare video from a song from their first EP:

Chorusgirl

A few month ago I featured the newest single by Chorusgirl, a fresh and new sound based on the best elements of the new wave era. These days they release their first album. Silvi gave me a link to this album and I've to say that it was more than entertaining. When they were based on their single on a late new-wave sound, they added nowadays surf-sound, twangy guitars, superb vocals and an unique sound to them. It's fun to listen to their songs. Some might say it's nothing new but it's not necessary to develop something new when your able to transport old-fashioned sounds into presence.




Chorusgirl - No Moon
Chorusgirl - Whiteout

Twanging Tuesday # 73

Seems like the twangy sound doesn't lose it's attraction to young musicians. La Luz is a Seattle based band that will release their new record Weirdo Shrines these days. Deeply based in surf-rock, The Ventures and Link Wray these four ladies takes us back to the urban sound of the early 1960s. Their songs could be classics if they were released decades ago. Produced by Ty Segall who put fuzz in almost every song. The record includes a few weird love songs and songs about being a creep. Most of the songs have a fiery setting combined with those guitar and echoed vocals. It's new, it's old, it's great.

La Luz - You Dissapear
La Luz - Don't Wanna Be Anywhere
La Luz - I Wanna Be Alone (With You)
La Luz - Black Hole, Weirdo Shrine

Twanging Tuesday # 69

Today's song is by a band from Mannheim, called Apache-O-Matic. I saw them live a few weeks ago on the festival. I was cruising around between two gigs and joined their appearance in the small tent. When I went in there I felt a bit of back in the 50s. Pure surf sound and twangy guitars ruled the place. I've never expected that a German band could be able to play this sound. Sometimes you got surprised by artists you've never heard before and they grab you with their sound. One of the hidden highlights of this festival for sure.

Twanging Tuesday # 66

Last week I posted Duane Eddy's classic 'Rebel Rouser'. And today is a band which tries to keep his legacy alive. Los Straitjackets are an American surf and instrumental band deeply based in the sound of Duane Eddy. Typical are their twangy guitar, their strait rhythm and not singing any word. It sound new, fresh and awesome. They appeared on my focus during the post Pulp Fiction surf revival.

Enjoy

Twanging Tuesday # 44

I don't know much about this band. My investigations lead me into nowhere. But I want to let you hear this little gem. It's just another great song that is close to the surf sound of the late 50s. Just a twanging guitar and very close to the roots of psychobilly.

Enjoy and have a good day.

The Scarlets - Stampede