The Tourmaliners - Surfidia CD (Sharawaji)
The album starts with an absolute cracker - “Grimace” is a fast paced, frenetic original that has guitar and organ up front and a delivery that reminds me faintly of Man Or Astro-Man’s take on “Time Bomb”. There’s no way they could keep up that pace, so they slow things down a bit with the melodic sci-fi/surf song “Voyage To Mars”. This track also includes the first of three world-renowned guest stars that appear on the album - it’s Ron Blair from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Other guests include Eddie Angel of Los Straitjackets on “Swanky” and Bob Spalding of The Ventures on “Giant Dipper”. The album is a collection of well-crafted, fun and powerful surf instrumental tunes as well as a few that have a twangy spaghetti western sound or a mid-50’s pop instrumental feel.
Tracks: Grimace - Voyage To Mars - Tourmaliner Twist - Close Out - Swanky - Con Permiso - Surfidia - Giant Dipper - Coyote - Loco Moco - Tiki Woodbridge - Santiago - Starshine - Picante!