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Reverb Central - PO Box 7240, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-7240
USA
Phil Dirt - Reverb Central |
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The Nematoads - Five Guns West Holy cow! This is a magnificent album, full of exceptional music. Great writing, huge drama, and wonderful arranging. The songs are picturesque, and it's all about spaghetti westerns. Imaginative and well developed, and very hard to put down. My only gripe if the almost ambient sound of the drums at times. |
Picks: Deadwood, Border Run, Urban Sombrero, Five Guns West, Entrada Del Oeste, Laredo By Sundown, Bandera!, Havana Gila, Dos Diablos, Matagorda Bay, Devil Ridge, Distant Drums, Capoburro
Deadwood ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
Lovely whammy gives "Deadwood" a spaghetti western flavor, while
the balance of the song depends of rock and surf for inspiration. This is
dramatic and visual, and the horn enhances the western theme appeal.
Border Run ()
Surf Instrumental (stereo)
Cowboys on surfboards with big tremolo shimmer on three guitars. The structure
is very good, resulting in a very cool arrangement. Great for driving down that
coastal highway in the rain.
Harlingen Shuffle Part 1 ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
This is a very brief interlude between scenes.
Urban Sombrero ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
Big twang and tremolo charm create a sultry edge for "Urban Sombrero"
to ride on. The almost subliminal moody bass is very important here, as are the
rhythm guitar and drums. This is a twanger with appeal.
Five Guns West ()
Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
Haunted guitars and stereo throbbing with an image of great dry expanses and
cabaleros. This very spacious track is quite effective at painting its picture,
and its gentle flow just adds mystery and confidence. I like this a lot. "Five
Guns West" washes you in throbbing echoes, which create a sense of
expansive range land. The melody is cool and the mix strongly suggests a
dreamscape adventure.
Entrada Del Oeste ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
Delicate acoustic guitars generate a sensual image of a Mexican village before
the big guitars ride into town. Great drums, and a superb borrowing of "Malaguena"
combine to make this minute and a half epic well worth the excursion.
Laredo By Sundown ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
Big drama is created by the guitar and the drums, and cool trumpet brings home
the spaghetti. This is a superb song with many changes and great imagery. I was
thinking this could be a great soundtrack score, but then I realized it tells a
whole story, not just a part. Wonderful.
Bandera! ()
Surf Instrumental (stereo)
Perhaps the most surf of the three tracks, "Bandera!" has a surf
feel from the tone, and the added organ brings on a slight Jim Waller
reference. Tuff glissandos and distant trumpet, plus cries of "bandera!" A fine
track!
Havana Gila ()
Surf Instrumental (stereo)
This is a very cool track. "Havana Gila" sports an engaging melody
line that's a hunting and shimmering with tremolo. Howling feedback adds danger
and nervousness. Moderately paced, it travels across a desert expanse where few
return. This is really superb!
Dos Diablos ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
"Dos Diablos" has an exotic, semitropical melody and beat, but is
squarely colored by the spaghetti western ethic. Great drums and plenty of
energy, along with the western trumpet, make this a spectacular instro. The lead
guitar is often playing in surf mode, double picking and riding high.
Exceptionally strong.
Matagorda Bay ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
"Matagorda Bay" romps right along with strong energy. It's melody
is good, but much less spaghetti than the rest here. The horns add the western
edge.
Devil Ridge ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
Richly desert oriented, "Devil Ridge" portrays the craggy scene
with a bit of meanness and adventure. The drums deliver a sort of military
adventure as well.
Distant Drums ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
Indian drums pound menacingly as the guitar delivers a relentless sequence that
transitions into a fuzz line. The second guitar counterpoints with double picked
charm. "Distant Drums" is a monster of drama and sensual energy.
Wow!
Cuero Gold ()
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental (Stereo)
An acoustic guitar calls with a mournful line. Think of this as a transitional
interlude.
Capoburro ()
Surf Instrumental (stereo)
A groovy guitar line with a touch of the Middle East and dark desert surf gives
"Capoburro" a unique sound. It's a catchy number in a
sophisticated way. Howling and rotating, it is big and very cool!