Surf Instro Track Review: The Outback Surf Squad - Spy Chaser

The Outback Surf Squad, known for their unique sound, is back with another single release titled "Spy Chaser."

Jamie Balcombe, the mastermind behind the band's signature sound, plays lead and rhythm guitars and handles special effects.

Jason Deatherage (The Surf Hermits) plays lead and rhythm guitars, bass, and drums and handles production and special effects.

With a title like "Spy Chaser," the music is a high-octane thrill ride, featuring explosive guitars that evoke the adrenaline of a spy thriller.

This is what I have come to expect from Jamie with his track releases. There is always a great deal of excitement and a multitude of things happening in his music.

Look no further than down under for some classic surf rock with today's clean and clear production elements, courtesy of the masters of surf instro, The Outback Surf Squad.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

June 28, 2025

Dodge City Social Club · Spy Chaser

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

Surf-Rock-Punk Review: Surfpatrouille - Venus Pussy Polka Riot

Alright, so I bet you want to know what Venus Pussy Polka Riot is, right? Don't ask me, okay? All I know is that the surf genre, historically, has often depicted nude women and a devil-may-care attitude about sex in its artwork and themes. Now, considering that minor formality is out of the way, we are on to what matters: the music.

Surfpatrouille, a thrilling import from Germany, has crafted a unique sound by blending hard-edged rock-punk elements with traditional and third-wave surf-instro (like The Lombego Surfers). This deadly combination bursts through your speakers at hyper speed, ready to blow the roof off any sleepy morning. It's a refreshing jolt at the end of a long day, invigorating and making you feel alive!

Surfpatrouille's music is not just sexy, raw, and unnerving; it's also a therapeutic release. It's full of reckless abandon, the calling card of any carefree, mindless youth who seems to play surf-instro. 

Music and attitude ignite and perpetuate each other. The young and the restless capture my imagination and make blood go racing to my head. Music is the driving force behind the emotive rocket fuel that burns inside everyone.

Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, it's there. This great surf-instro-rock unit will be a therapeutic tool in helping you release those demons that live inside, just dying for an opportunity to cut loose.

Yeah...this is kick ass music on a mission. Get it, play it, feel it, and experience it. It will do your soul good, regardless of your age or upbringing. This sure outweighs some of the crap that's making millions right now and dominating the airwaves. This is the real deal.  I can smell the salt air and hear the crashing waves now...

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck  

August 15, 2000

Tracks:

01. Surfpatrouille Orion

02. Venus Pussy Polka Riot

03. Warp VI 

04. Man O' Surf  

05. Long Riders On Ventura 

06. TelSka 

07. Supernova # 5  

08. Miss Marple 

Surf Music Waves and Sun

Here are a few more images I created with MS Designer

This is just for fun, and I'm sometimes surprised by the results!

Surf Instro Review: Dave Myers and The Surftones - The Best Of Dave Myers and The Surftones: Moment Of Truth

Dave Myers and The Surftones were as pivotal and popular a group as any others that dominated the early 60s surf craze scene. The Surftones were one of the house bands at the famous Rendezvous Ballrooms. 

The Best Of Dave Myers and The Surftones: Moment Of Truth is a vintage surf instro from the "first wave."

Dave was a music student with a good head for business. At the age of 19, he was a multi-talented instrumentalist. His saxophone and guitar playing were the core of the group's foundation. Johnny Bartlett mentions in the liner notes that it wasn't uncommon to see people like Dave in the music business back then.

Nowadays, it's unheard of for artists at 19 to have so many talents. Those were different times when children were brought up much differently than today. Technology has much to do with how an artist is disciplined and trained when following a career path in music.

The cover art indicates that the CD contains 14 pounding surf stompers. They give it to you exactly as advertised. The group utilizes the guitar and saxophone proportionately and very successfully.

When I listen to music like this, I can understand why a musician would be so attracted to it. Playing this music must have been a real charge!

This is pounding, reverb-filled surf from the vintage era, and it is a must-listen if you want to hear more about when it all began.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

April 1999

Tracks:

01. Frog Walk Part II  

02. Church Key  

03. Smokey Stomper 

04. King's Surf  

05. Aquavelva 

06. Surferama  

07. Moment Of Truth

08. Road To Rincon  

09. Surf Breaker  

10. Surfer's Theme  

11. Passion  

12. Wet Walkin'

13. Driftin'  

14. White Water