A psychedelic, experimental surf instrumental band performing the music of The Beatles

20 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Psychedelic, ROCK: Instrumental Rock



Details:
The Thurston Lava Tube are a psychedelic, experimental surf instrumental band from Leicester, England. The Lava Tube sound features an interesting range of vintage organs in addition to the traditional surf guitar line-up.

They have made four albums since 2001...
1) Me Ka Nahaku (a collection of surf instrumental versions of Beatles' songs)
2) Move over Rover, let Clover take over
3) The Pink Elephant with Nipples for Tusks (this one includes a secret bonus live album in mp3 format)
4) The Thoughful Sounds of Bat Smuggling (this one also includes a secret bonus live album in mp3 format)

They are:
Alan Jenkins - guitar
Blodwyn P. Teabag - organ
Marshall Cavendish - bass guitar
Mat Bartram - Drums

Review from Reverb Central:

This time out, the Thurston Lava Tube make nice with the music of the Beatles. Lots of creativity, some more successful than others, and all fun. I'm no fan of the Beatles, but I must say there are some really good interpretations here. Right spiffy, boys and girls!

Picks: Surfin' USSR, A Hard Day's Night, Maxwell's Silver Hammer A, Helter Skelter, Maxwell's Silver Hammer B, With A Girl Like You, Please Please Me, Across The Universe, I Feel Fine, She Loves You, I'll Be Back, A Day In The Life, Free As A Bird
"Surfin' USSR" 4 stars

With no shortage of tongues in cheeks, the Thurston Lava Tube twang and whammy their way through the Beatles' "Back In The USSR," with Good Vibrations Theremin and pumpin' organ. It's just too fun!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"A Hard Day's Night" 3 stars

Hinting of Davie Allan, "A Hard Day's Night" features fuzz guitar and big organ drama. It works surprisingly well!
Fuzz Instrumental Stereo
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer A" 3 stars

The organ carries the lead in this almost carnival treatment. Suave in a mall sorta way.
Mall Organ Instrumental Stereo
"Helter Skelter" 4 stars

"Helter Skelter" seques right outta "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" with big twang and edgy power. Intense and aggressive, with pounding drums. It seques right back into "Maxwell's Silver Hammer."
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer B" 3 stars

This is a shorter almost churchy version of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" acting as the other bookend to "Helter Skelter."
Mall Organ Instrumental Stereo
"With A Girl Like You" 3 stars

Tasteful surf tone gently plays the melodic lead lines to "With A Girl Like You," while the swirling Leslie pumps in the wings. Very nice.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"And Your Bird Can Sing" 3 stars

The constant swirl of the organ clears the way for the guitar, while the drums rock and the bass rumbles.
Mall Organ Instrumental Stereo
"I Am The Walrus" 3 stars

This relatively non melodic song doesn't hold up very well instrumentally, though a glissando or two give it a surf feel.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"When I'm 64" 3 stars

Backwards stuff and a few samples meander over a distant organ fluffily oozing "When I'm 64."
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Revolution 9" 2 stars

The words "number 9" are replaced by a relentless guitar riff. Too repetitious for me. Interesting that "Revolution 9" is track 10.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Please Please Me" 4 stars

Damped surf chunk rhythm and guitar whammy twang introduce a shimmering Euro guitar lead. What they do here is quite interesting. It's fairly light weight, and on the odd side, yet is quite endearing. Fine energy and plenty of guitar technique changes.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Across The Universe" 5 stars

The floating melody line sounds quite good in damped reverb. Semi dramatic, and liquid cool. The organ gives it a reverent feel, while the rest of the arrangement straddles the line between surf and quirk. Very cool!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"I Feel Fine" 4 stars

That big guitar intro riff yields to a compressed fuzzy square wave assault over thundering drums and grumbling bass. The organ brings in a carnival atmosphere for an upsetting and endearing playful sound.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"She Loves You" 4 stars

"She Loves You" is a good melody for an instrumental treatment, and the arrangement here is very complimentary. It has the feel of the Saturns' "Voyage Around The Moon" from the soundtrack to That Thing You Do.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"I Will" 2 stars

With a faux jaws harp, this tweaky version of "I Will" is on the electro back porch side of the aisle.
Back Porch Instrumental Stereo
"I'll Be Back" 4 stars

"I'll Be Back" is a nice vehicle for the suave side of the Thurston Lava Tube. Great drums and cheesy grins, with liquid organ and a groovy beat. Too cool, almost slushy in a way you can't dislike.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"I Wanna Be Your Man" 3 stars

One of many songs they threw away, "I Wanna Be Your Man" was an early recording for the Rolling Stones. Great drums and cheesy organ.
Mall Organ Instrumental Stereo
"What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?" 2 stars

The fuzz against disquieting drums and collapsing structures is more than a little weird, yet kinda magnetic.
Mall Organ Instrumental Stereo
"A Day In The Life" 3 stars

Piano and rising backward weirdness, plus John Lennon samples. Once into the song, it's more or less surfy and sports a solid beat. Splashy and cool.
Mall Organ Instrumental Stereo
"Free As A Bird" 4 stars

The ocean laps at the shore while tribal drums gently provide meter for a shimmering vibrato guitar. "Free As A Bird" is very pretty in a lagoon summer kinda way. Excellent track.
Mall Organ Instrumental Stereo