Surf Music

New album: The Incomprehensible Static || Transmitting Live From The Future

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The Incomprehensible Static (TIS) is the solo project of Pete Darrington aka Pete Static (from the bands Cable, Hudson Super 6, GodNo!, etc., but also co-founder of independent record label Reckless Yes), born out of lockdown boredom. Together with some talented friends – Jay Churchley (Nervous Twitch) and Darius Hinks (Cable) – he recorded the mini-album Transmitting LIVE From The FUTURE! in his garage. The eight instrumental surf-punk songs are retro-futuristic and very suitable to accompany old video images. For example, Quarter Mile Burnout is a celebration of the golden era of drag racing, Earth Vs The Flying Saucers is a homage to the classic kitsch sci-fi 1956 movie of the same name, and UVB​-​76 is about a secret Russian radio transmission. This record is a new pinnacle of the genre.

Transmitting Live From The Future is out now digitally, on CD and limited edition 10″ eco vinyl LP thorugh Reckless Yes.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Bomboras || The Return Of The Up Up Sound

By / / Garage Rock, Surf Music / 2 Comments

American surf rock band The Bomboras kept the genre alive in the 1990s with some great albums and wild live shows. After six years together they broke up in 2000, only to perform an occasional reunion show after that. We had to wait over twenty years for it, but Pam Moore (bass), Jake Cavaliere (organ), Gregg Hunt (guitar), Gina Brune (guitar), and Dave Klein (drums) are now really back, with more energetic fuzzy garage / surf rock instrumentals like those played in the ’60s. They just released the EP The Return Of The Up Up Sound with four awesome brand new tracks: Party At Gregg’s, Hold Tight, Planet Of The Ape Hangers, and Heads Or Tails make it a glorious return. These songs are an absolute must for anyone who still loves the basics of rock ‘n’ roll in the 2020s.

The Return Of The Up Up Sound is out now on CD and 7″ vinyl through MuSick Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp 

New album: The Garrys || Get Thee To A Nunnery

By / / Garage Rock, Psych, Surf Music / Leave a Comment

With no prior knowledge of The Garrys, I listened to their new album, enjoyed it, and thought it would sound like this if Allah-Las and Alvvays would made music together: psychedelic surf rock that provides the perfect soundtrack for the transition from summer to autumn. When I then started to look into the band, I realized that my first impression was a bit too sunny: if you listen more closely, you’ll discover a dark underlayer that provides an ominous feeling.

The Garrys are a trio of sisters – Erica (guitar, keys, vocals), Julie (bass, vocals), and Lenore Maier (drums, vocals) – from the coldest part of the landlocked Canadian prairies, who in their own words make “doom-wop on morphine.” Like previous releases, Get Thee To A Nunnery (their fourth long player, this one produced by Dallas Good (The Sadies)), pays homage to their familial roots and the isolation and decay of rural life, but is also inspired by stories of their mother’s high school years at an all-girls Catholic boarding school and convent in a small town 60 years ago. It only makes the new record more fascinating: the nostalgic background, the warm sound coming from a cold area, the cinematic lyrics, the intriguing harmony vocals – the making of this record would be a great documentary.

“Baby you’ve been bad bad bad bad, so bad // Girl you’d better pray, before they put you away”

Stream the full album below.

Get Thee To A Nunnery is out now digitally, on CD, cassette, and vinyl LP through Grey Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp 

New EP: Gran Nada || Gran Nada

By / / Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Surf Music / Leave a Comment

If I am not mistaken, Gran Nada is the first Chilean band we covered on this site. The four-piece just released their debut EP. It has 7 pretty good to pretty great songs of breezy surfrock and beachpop. RIYL: Beach Fossils, The Drums. [update: Not sure why, but this EP seems to be taken down from Bandcamp]

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Coastal Surf Club || 難忘的衝浪歌曲 no​.​1

By / / Garage Rock, Surf Music / 1 Comment

Who would have thought they also play surf rock in China, and pretty good too, as you can hear below. Please meet Coastal Surf Club, who capture the rolling of the waves in 7 instrumental songs of around 2 minutes each. I don’t speak Chinese very well, actually not at all, and since there is no singing that’s not a problem at all, but according to my translation app this music reflects the sound of ocean waves that belong to southern China and become the ghost of spring reverberation in Xiamen.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Messer Chups || New Wave or Surf Wave

By / / Garage Rock, Surf Music / 1 Comment

There are a number of iconic bands that almost everyone seems to be a fan of. Kraftwerk for example. I probably shouldn’t say it, but I don’t feel it. However, if you replace the electronics with guitars, you can hear how strong their work is, but in a style that appeals to me more. That’s exactly what the Russian surf trio Messer Chups did with Kraftwerk’s classic Das Model on their new digital album New Wave or Surf Wave. On this EP you can also hear covers of, among others, Enjoy The Silence (Depeche Mode) and Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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