ompiled from several singles, Death Race 3000 is a fine display of the many
personalities of this most creative band. Their focus may be rhythm, but their music
is hypnotic and infectious.
Picks: Le Mutant, Indians, Funky Fidel, Mambo Mutant, Rustical Cuban Cigars, Dr.
Gedup, HV Horror 13, Bungalow Boo-Boo-Boo, Beachwolley Mudparty, Agents Of The
Universe
"Le Mutant" ****
Mariachi horns, big spaghetti western guitar, tribal drums, grumbling bass... what a
solid single. Verging on surf, pummeling cowboys, and reinventing percussion for a
cannibal picnic. Very cool, melodic, and dangerous.
Tribal Spaghetti Instrumental Stereo
"Indians" ****
An Indian tribal beat and war whoops, electro wind blowing across the plain, heavy
thundering bass, and a rolling melody riff with long slow whammy. This is quite a
dramatic track, with a rock solid attraction and power.
Tribal Spaghetti Instrumental Stereo
"Funky Fidel" [full length] ****
This is the full track from which parts 1 and 2 were culled for the "Funky Fidel"
single. Tribal rhythmic thunder, guttural wah wah guitar, whirling organ, and
endless jungle ethics. This is a long way from the surf envelope, but so damn cool
that it requires a listen. Great drums, and a lost continent approach to the
seventies, as if you are the main course at a cannibal disco. As it continues into
the second part, the guitar tone in the bridge develops the nastiness of the lead in
Muruga and UFM's "Gum Improvisation." The only real question is, what does this have
to do with Fidel Castro?
Tribal Thunder Instrumental Stereo
"Mambo Mutant" ****
On the fast side, "Mambo Mutant" is edgy and sports exotic percussion. Amazing
blends of surf and throb and the tropics. Not melodic, but infectious none the less,
and there are a few glissandoes for extra measure. Big twang intensity.
Surf Funk Instrumental Stereo
"Rustical Cuban Cigars" ****
Vibrato and chunky funk with horns added for suaveness. "Mambo Mutant" throbs and
grumbles with vibrating charm and thunder. Mid tempo power surge with a relentless
hypnotic rhythm.
Surf Funk Instrumental Stereo
"Dr. Gedup" ***
Ugly growls and industrial brutality thump and bump and throb with vibrato before
launching into intense nerve-swirl progressions. It's a scene of unending mechanized
demise.
Surf Funk Instrumental Stereo
"HV Horror 13" ****
Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the tribal thunder of a "Drums A Go-Go" styled discotheque
monster. Powerful and rhythmic.
Surf Funk Instrumental Stereo
"Bungalow Boo-Boo-Boo" ***
Thick and dark, this brooding hypnotic monster has all the subtlety of an automated
regurgitator that you can't turn off. Annoyingly cool.
Surf Funk Instrumental Stereo
"Beachwolley Mudparty" ****
If you took the soul of the Stax label, say Otis Redding, and swirled it in a
blender with garage hypnotica, then crushed the resulting pulp with big drums and
garage fuzz, you'd be close to the sound of this.
Surf Funk Instrumental Stereo
"Agents Of The Universe" ***
Writhing with space annoyances and desolate beat thunder, this track threatens,
assaults, and mangles, then reassembles mercilessly. Whew!
Surf Funk Instrumental Stereo