Songs from the Pipe

Album Review

Those who look on the music of The Surfers as a modern take on the surf music so popular in the late ‘50's and early ‘60's are really only seeing part of the picture. Indeed, some of the material on the album does move those types of sounds into new directions, but there is really a lot more going on here than that. Much of the material here is in a modern alternative vein, calling to mind such bands as Cracker and Matchbox Twenty. The music also has leanings in the direction of somewhat strange sounding progressive rock sort of sounds. One track, "Spill", comes across with metallic Black Sabbathish leanings combined with a punk retro sensibility. The full picture of that track comes across feeling quite a bit like an early Pink Floyd mode. The album's closer, "Two Gether" has a pretty piano based neo-classical intro and is a great lovely ballad that gets just a little weird at times. In fact, there are really only three cuts that are pervaded by surf music tendencies. Those numbers are "Going", "Not Your Slave" and "Anything From You". The general feeling there is a total modern take on a faithful rendition of the classic surf sound. In other words, they bring that sound up to date. The group has an amazing versatility, blending retro sounds with modern and even neo-classical textures all with an ease and skill that is really impressive.