Surf Rock Instrumental Review: Desert Undertones-En Regalia

Release Date: November 13, 2025

Label: Independent

Website

The Desert Undertones are back with their second full-length release, En Regalia.

“En regalia” refers to being adorned or dressed in elaborate or formal attire, often associated with ceremonial or royal contexts. The cover art vividly captures this concept, reinforcing the album’s theme and adding visual depth to its musical expression.

“Deadeye” kicks things off in a very retro-sounding way with pounding drums and bass. The rapid riffing and bottom-end rhythms serve the lead guitar well! The energy is excellent for leading off track.

“Taos Lightning” features tasteful lead guitar runs as the bass continues to build strength, and the drums are equal to the task. The rhythms are extraordinary, as the guitar lines weave through those layers, all under three minutes.

“Todos Santos” is a small coastal town in the foothills of Mexico’s Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, on the Pacific coast side of the Baja California Peninsula. So, as you may expect, the sounds are very surf instro, with a solid rhythm guitar and leads that pinpoint-accurately enunciate the word “Surf” in every way, without uttering a single word.

“Long March 7” is one of my favorites so far. The bass and drums evoke subtle locomotives (if you can picture that), creating a rhythmic foundation that complements the lead guitar’s resonant notes. The track’s warm tones and vibrant colors evoke a deep connection to surf instro, making it a standout that genuinely captures the genre’s essence.

“Shorebreak” gets more tasteful with the tempo kicked down a few notches. It reminded me of the tracks on their first full-length, The Sentinel. The music is like the glimmer and shimmer of the sun off the ocean waves, perfect and pure excellence.

“En Regalia” is your title track, immediately signaling its importance, and it does not disappoint. Opening with rapid drumbeats and cymbals, the guitar adopts a distinct Spanish influence, reminiscent of the excitement of a bullfight. The emotion and vibrant colors of the costumes come to life on the cover art, creating a lively instrumental dance. As the album’s centerpiece, it sets a high bar that’s hard to surpass.

A “Neap Tide” is a type of tide that occurs when the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun are at right angles to each other, resulting in the smallest difference between high and low tides. This typically happens during the first and third quarters of the Moon.

Here, they switch from the high energy of the previous track to a slower, methodical tempo. Tasty leads, superb rhythm guitar, and a finite rhythm section make this another musical exercise in instrumental rock excellence.

“Algeciras” comes from the Arabic name “Al-Jazīrah al-Khaḍrāʾ,” which means "The Green Island,” referring to the nearby Isla Verde. The name reflects the city’s historical roots and its significance during the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. Also notable is Dylan Oldham’s nod to his favorite guitar player, Paco de Lucia!

Continuing with the softer approach, the drums are featured briefly as the guitar maintains its dominance. I like the fact that the production of this music allowed the other instruments to be heard clearly.

“Juana Maria,” better known to history as the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island, was a Native Californian woman who was the last surviving member of her tribe, the Nicoleño.

The track has a distinct Spanish influence in its sound and colors, with fast drums and bass as the bottom end, fired off by the guitars, answered by some fine lines that accentuate all those tribal beats that have been driving it along—a perfect ending to a perfect album.

With En Regalia, the Desert Undertones music has matured and become more diverse. Their ability to rock, tone it down, and be tasteful is authentic to their sound and to whom they have become with a sophomore effort that will resonate with all surf instrumental rock fans.

Credits: Guitar: Dylan Oldham, Bass: Christopher Marshall, Drums and all Recording work: Curt Pleiss

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

November 26, 2025

Tracks:

1. Deadeye 02:32

2. Taos Lightning 02:44

3. Todos Santos 02:10

4. Long March 7 02:48

5. Shorebreak 02:26

6. En Regalia 03:56

7. Neap Tide 02:52

8. Algeciras 03:02

9. Juana Maria 03:12

Surf Instro Review: Desert Undertones - The Sentinel

Release Date: December 5, 2024

Label: Independent

Website

The Sentinel, Desert Undertones' inaugural full-length recording, is a unique blend of surf instrumentals that will immediately captivate you with its striking cover artwork.

Dylan Oldham (guitar), Christopher Marshall (bass), and Curt Pleiss (drums) are this terrific trio.

 

Desert Undertones' surf instro is a tasteful and predominantly laid-back experience. If you're seeking a challenging, rockin' vibe, this album may not be for you. However, if you're a fan of instrumental music, you'll find plenty to appreciate in its soothing melodies.

 

Every track except one lasts more than 2 minutes, and the other is slightly over 3 minutes (Moonlight Beach). For those unfamiliar with this genre, the standard track length is typically 2 minutes or longer.

 

"Black Eagle" starts with commentary that sounds like it was pulled from a movie. It is filled with great melody and rhythm (which I found is one of their strengths). It is an energized opener.

 

"Point Reyes" has a nice sound with some good guitar picking. It reminded me of a sunny day on the beach in Maine with a clear blue sky, a mild surf, and a cooling breeze.  This is the kind of music designed to evoke those images.

 

"China Bowl," I would guess, is a place in the Arizona desert where most of this band resides, but that's not the case; it's a ski resort in Colorado where their drummer resides. The glissando playing is exceptionally smooth and soothing on this track, like a soft snow-covered path down the peak of a mountain.

 

"Izumo" features a nice glissando section, continuing from the last track with a subtle drum and bass accompaniment that enhances the lead guitar lines.

 

"Sands Point" sounds like the desert! The band shifts to a more uplifting tempo with their soft touch. The drums add a constant beat, accompanied by cymbals, to make it all shimmer as they move from one transition to another, which I appreciated. It was one of my favorites.

 

"Signal Hill" is catchy right at the outset, and it grabs you. The rhythms are crisp and clear, featuring a superb guitar sound and notable changes throughout. The bass stands out.

 

"Tiswin" has an even tempo, and it's beneficial, as the drums use the cymbals to good effect once again. There are many components packed into this one.

 

"Moonlight Beach" brings back that fascinating glissando playing. This is the highlight of the recording. Also, the drummer uses the cymbals to significant effect again, which is key. Another one of my favorites!

 

"The Sentinel," being the title track, is important, of course. They step it up with the tempo to get your attention, yet do it tastefully. The guitar shines like a star in a clear night sky.

 

"Pavones" is a remote village on the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, famous for its long left point break and lush rainforest attractions. To close out the album, it kicks things into high gear immediately. They become a bit heavier, indicating that they can loosen up and rock anytime if they want to, and continue to do it tastefully.

 

The Sentinel is a remarkable debut long player. With only 50 vinyl copies out of 100 remaining, it's set to become a coveted collector's item. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of music history-support Desert Undertones by purchasing the vinyl, downloading from Bandcamp, or ordering the CD.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

July 7, 2025

Tracks:

01. Black Eagle 02:31

02. Point Reyes 02:55

03. China Bowl 02:32

04. Izumo 02:25

05. Sands Point 02:56

06. Signal Hill 02:16

07. Tiswin 03:09

08. Moonlight Beach 03:01

09. The Sentinel 02:48

10. Pavones 02:47

Surf Instro Review and Interview: Desert Undertones 7" Vinyl - Massacre Canyon/The 48ers

Release Date:  May 1, 2024

Label: Independent

Website:  https://desertundertones.com/

Product Provided By: https://www.facebook.com/cifanzine/

Dylan Oldham (guitar), Christopher Marshall (bass), and Curt Pleiss (drums) are Desert Undertones. Hailing from Arizona, they aim to bring you exciting and memorable surf tunes. They hit the bullseye with “Massacre Canyon B/W “The 48ers”.

The tracks come housed in the sleeve you see here on black 7” vinyl. The retro cinematic artwork was provided by David Venegas, who captured their sound and intent.

 

The band partnered with Matthew Clark, creator of Colorado Instrumental Fanzine, who kindly provided copies of his fanzine, which included the vinyl for my review. He also had an interview with the band members in issue #3 (shown here). Their enthusiasm for the music is contagious, compelling you to seek it out and listen now (Stream it from the player I have provided). 

 

“Massacre Canyon” is a slow burner with some fine glissando sections and a nod to the foundation of surf instro. The atmosphere of intrigue and the rider kicking up dust on the cover is created in the music as you listen.

 

The music evolves with a unique blend of spaghetti western influences, but with their special sauce, creating a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly new.  

 

At 3:27, there is enough time to create that dual atmosphere, where the retro surf morphs into the desert/western sound portion of spaghetti, just not a full meal, but just enough around the fringes of surf to pique your interest with what they are doing.

 

“The 48ers” are the people who cashed in on the gold before the 49ers realized it was there.

 

This track is a solid rocker with plenty of rhythm, strong bass, and drums to complete the powerful trio formula. The guitar resonates beautifully throughout and between the changes, with shimmering leads that conjure images of sun and surf (except they do their surfing on the dunes of the desert). It then concludes with a perfect outro that reverberates and echoes.

 

Desert Undertones can spread the gospel of surf and intend to put out a whole album of tracks at some point this year. The prospect of a second full album is something I, and I'm sure many of you, eagerly anticipate.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

June 26, 2025