Instrumental psychedelic rockabilly surf-rock, twangy,exotic, tormented and fun.

13 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Surf Rock, ROCK: Instrumental Rock



Details:
Lost Lake is comprised of four musical veterans of the San Francisco music scene. Lost Lake's music draws from elements of classic sixties surf and rock instrumental bands such as the Ventures and the Shadows, psychedelia, rockabilly twang and free improvisation. The result is a moody brew that sounds both modern and familiar. Or, as one fan described the music, "The Ventures meet David Lynch."


Reviews

Phil Dirt, Reverb Central, August 1999
San Francisco's latest addition to the envelope edge excursion team. Lost Lake harbor references to the Mermen, the Reventlos, Pollo Del Mar, Captain Beefheart, and the surf. Their unique brand of slightly psychedelicized surf-rock instro music is both serious and fun, haunted and crystalline. This fine new CD is not for the trad folks, but will certainly please those comfortable at the edge.

... this is nice. It sports exotica rhythms, smooth surfy 'n' sun melody lines, haunted island imagery, and major staying power. This is a real sleeper. It's not high powered, but it demands attention, from the cool beat and suave tone to the whammy and promise of romance.


Ray Varner:
During the late 50's and early 60's, Rock and Roll radio was alive with instrumental hits. From the tightly grooved soul of Booker T, to the Hillbilly sax of Ace Cannon, it didn't take words to make a hit, just a backbeat and a melody hook. Prominent among the instrumental records of the time was an evolving genre of Surf/Twang. This highly recognizable sound was characterized by clip-clop, or backbeat shuffle, drumming and a gaggle of Fender guitars. If you need to put a name on this to stir the memory, try...The Ventures.

Somewhere along the line, R&R poets became enamored with the sound of their own voices, and instrumental rock went out of fashion.

In recent years Surf revivalist bands, like Los Staightjackets, have made inroads on College and Alternative radio stations. This has encouraged guitarists and writers to re-explore the possibility of making finger poppin' musical statements without trying to rhyme spoon and June. A fine and timely trend, I think.

Today I'm enjoying the new CD from four Bay Area music veterans. This instrumental quartet is called, cryptically enough, Lost Lake. The independently released package contains thirteen twangy tunes, and nary a word.

What it does contain is a baker's dozen of complex compositions dancing precariously on the triple edged sword of R&R, Psychedelia, and Jazz. While this CD is all danceable, all the time, it also forces you to actively listen and think. The modulations, shifting drum patterns, maze building bridges, and fat twangisms show off raucous originality tempered with discrete omage to the aforementioned Surf genre. You'll need to listen to this several times through, to "hear" it, and "get" it all. It's worth the effort.