Strunz/Farah
Desert Guitars
Our Price: $13.00
(Price Includes U.S. shipping)
More Info
World/Flamenco
Strunz and Farah's Desert Guitars is an evocative compilation of pieces representing their Middle Eastern side gathered from their recordings, plus a new track, "Caspian Night". Guest artists include Hayadeh, L. Subramaniam, Bijan Mortazavi, Manoochehr Sadeghi, J.A. Racy, Charlie Bisharat and many more. Tracks are pulled from albums such as "Stringweave", "Wild Muse", "Rio De Colores", "Heat Of The Sun", "Frontera", "Mosaico", "Guitarras" and "Zona Torrida". A great introduction to the more exotic cuts in the band's repertoire. Instrumental Guitar, total running time, 66:30
|
In Review
|
'Satellite Beach'
Review Featured In Reverb Central
 |
| Surf/Rock | |
By: Phil Dirt
ll I can say is, it`s about time! The Insect Surfers have been around since `79. In
al that time, they have recorded some of the most adventurous and magnificent surf
instros around. Finally, Green Cookie assembles a best-of spanning the entire 25
years. Utterly wonderful! it`s about time!
Picks: Razorback, Mojave, Volcano Juice, Mr. Yunioshi, Zorba`s Dance, Tethys, Tiger
Shark, Polaris, Black Sea, Massachusetts, Bouzouki, Dorsal Fin, Diamondback,
Outsider, Flamin` Eddie`s Dragstrip, Horizon Riders, Psychotronic, Silver Coast
"Razorback" ****
Pick slides slam into a melodic bluesy progression in "Razorback," resulting in a
desert mystique that projects images of cacti and mysterious moving rocks around
which razorbacks search for chow.
Southwest Desert Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Mojave" *****
This is one of the most spectacular middle eastern surf tracks around. It hollers
Bouzoukis and belly dancers, yet it also displays ample southwest desert edge and
mystery. A highly energetic, melodic, and absolutely infectious track.
Desert Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Volcano Juice" *****
King Fuzz himself (Davie Allan) lends his bike-o-phonic assault to "Volcano Juice,"
a towering number with a rolling bass line under a Bo Diddley tom tom cadence and a
relentless building series of crescendos. This is the second best tune on the CD, an
irrepressible monster! Very tribal and primitive!
Southwest Desert Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Mr. Yunioshi" ****
In a most unusual side trip, the Insect Surfers do a "Mr. Moto" intro, then delve
right into Henry Mancini`s "Mr. Yunioshi" with insect coolness. This is very
adventurous and inventive, with real suave slither and surf underpinnings. The
excellent damped plucking and double picked slither, and the way cool string bending
make this shine. Too much!
Lounge Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Zorba`s Dance" *****
One bitchin track. As usual, the Insects deliver the goods with their dueling leads,
and the bit from "Zorba the Greek" is priceless. Truly brilliant! No doubt about it.
Totally infectious.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Tethys" *****
"Tethys" captures your ears right from the start. The alternating melody line is
captivating and intricate. Each guitar brings its own brand of delivery to the song,
with many fine changes in texture and tone. "Tethys" is a magnificent track.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Tiger Shark" ****
"Tiger Shark" opens the album with finite feedback, which evolves into a heavy
growling riff with a very cool chunky melody over the top. This is one of those
highly infectious Insect Surfer songs that can be identified as theirs without ever
having heard it before. A fine track.
Southwest Desert Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Polaris" *****
This is one perfect instro. The melody line features the kind of hooks that stay
with you, the arrangement is nearly magical, and the imagery is stunning. This is a
mid tempo beautifully written and played tune with subtle drama and picturesque
guitar tones.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Black Sea" *****
This is an amazing new song! It rides on an undulating rhythm, born of western skies
and summer adventure. Compelling and exquisitely arranged, "Black Sea" demands your
attention. Vibrato drama, silky fluid lines, psychedelic effects, and a call to the
open highway. Magnificent! No, it`s Perfect!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Massachusetts" ****
This is a deliriously delicious choice to make instro surf hay with. The Bee Gees
couldn`t have seen this coming, though they did have an excellent sense of melody.
It`s faster and more spunky than the original, and replete with the insects
signature twin leads. Excellent!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Bouzouki" *****
This tune is dedicated to the fabled classic Greek instrument that inspired Dick
Dale`s double picking. It combines the trad Greek ethic with surf guitar and bits of
"Miserlou." A very strong track.
Desert Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Dorsal Fin" ****
This fine instrumental merely hints at the future surf magic of Dave Arnson. It is a
wonderful track, but is quite different than the current Insect fare. It is a
marvelous example of early eighties pop gone surf-inspired instro. The keyboard is
cool, and the writing is great. I`ve often asked Dave to add this back to his set,
but to no avail. Demand it, it`s a great song.
Eighties Pop Instrumental Stereo
"Diamondback" *****
A rattlesnake shakes it`s moneymaker as you roll down the Arizona highway with a
picture-perfect sunset looming in your future. That`s what you see when you listen
to "Diamond Back," with it`s rolling rhythms, dual leads, and that snake rattle.
This is the third best track on this CD, a 5 star tune!
Southwest Desert Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Outsider" *****
This is all about waiting on your board for that long thin dark shadow-line that
appears on the horizon, and builds until someone shouts "OUTSIDER!" It shreds, it
double-pick pounds, it growls, it groans, and it`s killer!
Desert Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Flamin` Eddie`s Dragstrip" ****
The dragsters rev up, the announcer calls the race, and then the guitars kick in.
This long time Insect Surfers finally makes it to disc, and way past due I say!
Great grodie fuzz and liquid guitar, an utterly infectious melody, "Church Key"
whammy dips... what more do you need? Edgy hotrod cool!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Horizon Riders" *****
This is one of the best new songs from the Insect Surfers. It`s an infectious
spaghetti western with very visual psychedelic swirls. The rolling cowboy beat and
Morricone-ish melody are a splendid Southwest epic! The many textural changes add a
sense of evolving story lines. Great!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Psychotronic" ****
This is a Mike Maxfield tune, not like "Cruel Sea," but more like a country
backtrack. It`s a riff a,d a bunch of country twang, and a rolling down the highway
good time pleaser. Dedicated to B-movies everywhere, "Psychotronic" features the
signature Insect dual leads over fine chunky rhythms. The trashiness of the black
and whites is self-evident in this fine track.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Silver Coast" ****
Slowly rising from the sea and beautiful guitarscapes, "Silver Coast" rides on a
circulating melody line atop a great rhythm. This fine track is is a fine example of
the swirling perfection that the Insect Surfers are capable of. Gorgeous ringing
tone and throbbing essence of surf, with long howling feedback and grumbling bass
slowly releasing the track as it fades under the waves.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
|
|
|
Recently Added Reviews
|
Insect Surfers
"Satellite Beach"
All I can say is, it's about time! The Insect Surfers have been around since '79. In
al that time, they have recorded some of the most adventurous and magnificent surf
instros around. Finally, Green... MORE
Dave Beegle
"Clear The Tracks"
Like Jimmy Page, Brian May and Tom Scholtz, Dave Beegle is a one-man guitar army. A very clever player - Guitar Magazine
Dave is a remarkable guitarist with great... MORE
Steve Vai
"Mystery Tracks - Archives Vol. 3"
The second individual release distilled from Vai's massive 10 CD Secret Jewel Box Set, the 2003 release of Mystery Tracks Archives Vol. 3, is actually a collection of bonus tracks featured on various... MORE
Dave Beegle
"Clear The Tracks"
Dave Beegle's "Clear The Tracks" is a 10-year compilation overview of Dave's career with his projects Fourth Estate, Artifact Symphony, The BOQ Trio and Blinddog Smokin' (circa this material... MORE
|
|
Latest Releases, Just In
|
David T. Chastain
 |
| Heavy Metal | |
|
Rob Johnson
 |
| Shred/Heavy Metal | |
|
Scott Henderson
 |
| Fusion | |
|
|
Titles To Watch
|
| |
 
Larry Carlton
The Very Best Of Larry Carlton
Great Playing, Arrangements, Tunes
Blues
|
 
Neil Zaza
Rewind: The Definitive Collection
Best Of 1992-2004
Hard Rock
|
 
Armik
The Best Of Armik
Discover The Passion & Skill
World/Flamenco
|
 
Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Instrumental Best Album
All Instrumental Retrospective
Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
|
|
|
|
|
