Release Date: May 17, 2023
Label: Independent
Their press kit says the following:
Les Panches Surfers is a Spain-based Instro Surf band that
combines tremendous versions of surf classics with excellent and powerful songs
of their own. Under his impeccable appearance of white clothes, masks of
catrinas and Mexican hats hide an excessive force and Danger, as they demonstrate
in every gig, is comparable to The Mummies. They have dynamited scenarios of
the most essential venues from Madrid to Germany, and everyone who has ever
seen them live knows that ...
I think that was a clever intro to the band, and with the masks,
they remind me of many other bands doing the same thing, except this group all
go by aliases, so you don’t know who they really are. Hailing from Madrid,
Spain, this is yet another indication of the global presence of surf instro.
"La Balacera" is a Spanish term meaning “the shooting”
or “the shootout,” referring to a gunfight or the act of firing guns. They kick
it off with a bang (no pun intended) with their title track. They are letting
you know this high-energy music with some good guitar licks and an explosive
rhythm section. Off to a great start, and they get it done in a little over two
minutes.
“Surf Division” begins in a more mellow manner compared to the
opener. Some fast fingerpicking is going on here with the acoustic,
transitioning into some fuzztone leads (ala Davie Allan). Then they circle back
to the original melody with the glissando guitar, then back into the electric
driving section. The drums and bass, always key in pushing the band along, do
their thing well. I liked the quick drum rolls inserted a few times, then the
weird string bending sound to close it out.
“GusFuzz,” you figure, is going to be interesting with a title
like that, and it is. It begins with the retro ’60s surf sound, a style
characterized by its upbeat tempo, reverb-heavy guitar, and catchy melodies,
and features some additional glissando, adding a definitive Spanish flavor. The
squealing guitar puts a picture of a surfer going tubular in your mind. The
guitar is superb with all the warmth and inviting sound that you expect to
emulate the beach, fun in the sun, and surfboards. Three-quarters of the way
through, the fuzz arrives with some catchy licks.
“El Secuestro” is the Spanish word for kidnapping or abduction
(yes, I always must look this stuff up). So immediately with that thought in
mind, their sound is one of mystery and intrigue. It moves along nicely with a
good flow and mixture of acoustic and electric riffs. Lots of hooks and the
transition to the rhythm section showing its power, and entirely different licks
add another layer.
“Último verano en Torremolinos” translates to last summer in
Torremolinos. So, you imagine the sun, the beach, and memories come flooding
into your mind. At least that is what the music should do. It does paint that
picture nicely. It is a mellower melody with some layered guitar work. I
appreciate the versatility the band demonstrates on this track. They can rock
or kick back and play something with a great melody and tasteful hooks to pull
you in.
“La Huida” translates to “the escape” in English. Knowing what
these words mean before hearing the track is very helpful in picturing what the
band is attempting to say in their music. This one explodes from the first note
played. They return to a heavy rocking mode, incorporating some impressive
guitar effects. Then the rhythm section gets their turn as they thump away, and
you hear some of the quick drum rolls as the guitars wail away. The band’s
ability to create a visual experience through their music is truly engaging!
“Tenebrosa” means dark. So here we go again, will it feel that
way? Yes, indeed, it does, with a creepy intro and a devilish laugh. The
guitars provide a lot of excitement and changes. There is that element of
surprise and intrigue again as it builds through this track with several
different sounds, transitions, and guitar lines ever changing.
“Rosarito” starts
with a more retro sound on guitar (like the 1st wave in the 60s). More mellow
again this time with subtle drums and bass (which is a change in comparison to
most tracks). Nice flow and smooth guitar lines.
“Calçots” are a type of green onion, also known as scallions.
This is a fun process, trying to figure out all these English translations!
This is another one with the more traditional surf instro sound, with a steady
flow of surging up and down guitar lines, with the bass and drums maintaining a
constant rhythm throughout. Then suddenly that retro organ sound jumps in as
the level of bass and drums rise along with it. Many changes make for one of
the more diverse tracks yet.
“Waikiki” does not need translation, obviously. Big waves,
right? Well, in one aspect, yes, for surfers, but not in this case. They get
mellow and tasteful again with some excellent guitar work. Their Spanish
heritage creeps in here; it’s not Andres Segovia, but it’s perfect! The organ
is added again for another layer, followed by the quick shutdown.
“El Ahorcado” is translated as The Hanged Man. And it lines up
perfectly with their “Spaghetti Western” sound on this closing track. The
guitar resonates and echoes as a subtle organ plays off in the background—the
drums and bass sound foreboding as they end the track.
Les Panches Surfers are an excellent surf instro band that knows how to rock or pull back and do something more tasteful and picturesque. All their many talents are on full display on La Balasera.
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Reviews Founder
September
2, 2025
Tracks:
01. La Balasera 02:13
02. Surf Division 02:42
03. GusFuzz 04:02
04. El Secuestro 02:50
05. Último verano en Torremolinos 03:35
06. La Huida 02:25
07. Tenebrosa 02:52
08. Rosarito 02:23
09. Calçots 03:22
10. Waikiki 02:06
11. El Ahorcado 03:00
No comments:
Post a Comment