Surf Instro Review: The Breakaways - Cowa-Bongo

I learned about The Breakaways' album Cowa-Bongo from a good friend and Illusions guitarist, Larry Ellis. Anybody that Larry associates with has to be a class act, so I said send me the CD! 

What a change of pace this CD turned out to be. They play a softer surf because when they perform live, they do it at hospitals for kids, and there are concerns about sound levels.

Instead of drums, they opt for bongos. Bongos always add flair and originality to surf music, giving it an entirely different feel.

They do some cover tunes quite differently. Although I have heard these standards done in many different ways, the style presented on this recording is refreshing.

What really touched my soul was not only the music but also what they are doing with their talents. The liner notes have a paragraph stating, "To provide entertainment for kids/adults who are considered underprivileged, abused, ill, neglected or disabled, at no charge."

Giving to the community is a contagious habit, and the kids might see that there is spirit and goodwill in giving. Isn't that wonderful? It's so good to hear that good things are going on connected to music.

If you can, e-mail Craig Skelly to say hello and support the group's work. Get a copy of the CD or tape to support this wonderful group now!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 1999

Tracks:

01. Karina 

02. Out Of Limits  

03. Baja  

04. Sukiyaki  

05. Diamond Head  

06. Waimea  

07. Pefidia  

08. Surf Rider

09. Ocean View  

10. Telstar  

11. La Nina  

12. Driving Guitars   

13. Walk Don't Run  

14. Wild As The Sea  

15. Apache

Surf Instro Review: The Bradipos IV - Instro Mania!!

Italy's Bradipos IV, another Robert Rugerri project, brings a unique blend of surf instro power to our shores with their album Instro Mania! 

Their sound, distinct from other surf groups, is just as impressive as Cosmonauti's, which I reviewed last month.

Finding a surf group worth its salt in an unsuspecting place like Italy must be a task, although it is becoming more apparent that groups like this are popping up all over the globe. 

The intro throws you off a bit, as it sounds like an eerie beginning for a surf CD.

Once the intro gives way, Bradipos IV's album is a full-throttle, high-energy surf experience. The production quality, a hallmark of Robert Ruggeri's work, is evident. With this album, the surf's up in Italy, and now it's here for you to enjoy the waves from a distant land. 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 1999

Tracks:

01. Intro  

02. Mysterion 

03. Tijuana's Stomp  

04. Forbidden Island  

05. Surfin' Sloth  

06. Work Song  

07. Dirty Phonic

08. Barracuda   

09. Brainless Girl  

10. Stompin' Tune  

11. Prisoner In Orbit  

12. Positano  

13. Carmela  

14. Kissin' Bonobo Roll

Surf Instro Review: The Cave 4 in... Bikini Crash

When you look at the titles of the songs on The Cave 4 in...Bikini Crash!, you begin to think that they are typical surf CDs. Words like banzai, malibu, and beaches are used.

One listen, and you feel you have heard two separate groups playing on different CDs! There are your typical twanging, reverb-filled tunes, and then the group surfs off into punk-garage-rock territory. It is, for the most part, great.

A few tunes, primarily the garage tracks, are on the low end of the recording spectrum. The surf tracks are much cleaner for the concerned audiophile. With that exception, it was a perfectly enjoyable listen.

This group has heaps of talent, and it's apparent in their ability to change from one type of music to the next quickly and convincingly. That is what impressed me.

The songs were recorded in the Netherlands, where the group resides, between 1994 and 96. Hopefully, they can record the next CD stateside, and we can hear a more precise and cleaner production. I enjoyed listening to this and believe any surf instro enthusiast would!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 1999

TRACKS

01. Shockwave  

02. Surfin' Cat  

03. Malibu Run 

04. Bonneville Stomp  

05. Blast Off  

06. Tribute Pt.1   

07. Unknown

08. House On Haunted Hill  

09. Alfred E. Goes Surfin'   

10. Slow  

11. Bikini Crash  

12. Let's Go To The Beach

13. Same All Over The World  

14. Cave 4  

15. Banzai Washout