Silver Coast.mp3 (click the link to download the MP3)
Reptile Boots
Horizon Riders
Coolangatta
Tethys
Dewey's Dead
Batwave
Flamin' Eddie's Dragstrip
Ocotillo
Asteroid
Black Sea
Electric Marlin
Nomad
Ursa Minor (live)
Starfish Ranch/Mojave Reef
Baja

Picks: Silver Coast, Reptile Boots, Horizon Riders, Coolangatta, Tethys, Dewey's Dead, Batwave, Flamin' Eddie's Dragstrip, Ocotillo, Asteroid, Black Sea, Electric Marlin, Nomad, Ursa Minor, Starfish Ranch / Mojave, Baja

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Silver Coast ****

Slowly rising from the sea and beautiful guitarscapes, Silver Coast rides on a circulating melody line atop a great rhythm. This fine track is is a fine example of the swirling perfection that the Insect Surfers are capable of. Gorgeous ringing tone and throbbing essence of surf, with long howling feedback and grumbling bass slowly releasing the track as it fades under the waves.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Reptile Boots ***

Lizard skinned rhythms and pumpin' drums bump under a modern semi-psychedelic melodic melody line. The contrast between the foreground backtrack and distant lead creates a haunting sound. Quite nice!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Horizon Riders *****

This is one of the best new songs from the Insect Surfers. It's an infectious spaghetti western with very visual psychedelic swirls. The rolling cowboy beat and Morricone-ish melody are a splendid Southwest epic! The many textural changes add a sense of evolving story lines. Great!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Coolangatta *****

Like a chunkier version of Rake and the Surftones with Link Wray close by, Coolangatta pulses with power and a great rhythm, plus some spectacular guitar tone and sustain. This is one fine track!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Tethys *****

Tethys captures your ears right from the start. The alternating melody line is captivating and intricate. Each guitar brings its own brand of delivery to the song, with many fine changes in texture and tone. Tethys is a magnificent track.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Dewey's Dead ****

On the verge of dirge inversion, Dewey's Dead grumbles about the loss in a never ending tubular ride way, with thunder in the tom toms and a relentless adventure in the rhythm.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Batwave ****

Batwave is dissonant and angular, with intense tortured ambiance and plenty of attack. It's dark and dangerous, and haunting too. The howling adds to the fright factor. Excellent!
Sci-Fi Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Flamin' Eddie's Dragstrip ****

The dragsters rev up, the announcer calls the race, and then the guitars kick in. This long time Insect Surfers finally makes it to disc, and way past due I say! Great grodie fuzz and liquid guitar, an utterly infectious melody, Church Key whammy dips... what more do you need? Edgy hotrod cool!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Ocotillo *****

The warm melody of Ocotillo flows like a ride down the Baja coast in search of a perfect summer break. Completely cool, with a Spanish edge and pumping bass line. Fine track!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Asteroid ****

Space echo guitar, backwards coolness, mind-game escapes... and that's just the intro. In an odd way, this reminds me of the introduction to Shuggie Otis' Freedom Flight. It's more a soundscape than a song, but is quite satisfying.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Black Sea *****

This is an amazing new song! It rides on an undulating rhythm, born of western skies and summer adventure. Compelling and exquisitely arranged, Black Sea demands your attention. Vibrato drama, silky fluid lines, psychedelic effects, and a call to the open highway. Magnificent! No, it's Perfect!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Electric Marlin ****

Electric Marlin heads down the coast to glassy walls unknown. This track is rhythm dominated and full of adventure, fast and delicate, and like the call of the wild. Excellent!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Nomad *****

Another stellar Insect tune loaded with energy and twin lead style, Nomad has been in the Insect Surfers set for quite a while. Heavier than in the early days, yet sparkling in a modern way. Fine song.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Ursa Minor [live] ****

Like a scene from a distant space station, Ursa Minor is moody and mystical, with a solid air of cold vacuum adventure. It's a soundscape that often opens Polaris these days. It stands alone well on it's own.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Starfish Ranch / Mojave *****

The upbeat adventure of Starfish Ranch is always more than friendly and attractive. This infectious and circular melody line always brings a grin to my mug. The whammy action and writhing guitaristry are very powerful. Mojave is transitioned into. It is made of the rumble of the decay, with haunting feedback whale calls and moody fine drums. Quite a soundscape!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Baja *****

Lee Hazelwood's classic Baja is very nicely rearranged by the Insect Surfers. The sea breaks gently on the shore, the guitar rings out, and a softened delivery adds a sense of beauty and calm. Excellent counterbalances between the two guitars makes this one of the best versions around!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
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Along with Pollo Del Mar, The Mermen and a small handful of other bands, Insect Surfers take a heavier approach to their instrumental surf music.   Of course, Dave Arnson and company have been at it longer than the others, having started his band in Washington D.C. in 1979. They've never disbanded, though there have been a few players in and out over the years, and today they sound exactly like a band with that many years of experience and maturity.   They manage to make a track heavy while keeping it melodic and somehow buoyant.   I'm sure they'll hate this, but I've always thought of them as the Blue Oyster Cult of surf, but I mean it as a hell of a compliment.   A song like "Nomad" could be just another surf tune in other hands, but it has a mysterious quality, a foreboding and a forlorn feeling to the distant lead guitar that takes it a different direction.   The musicianship has only improved within Insect Surfers and the songwriting has done likewise.   With music of this quality coming out 24 years into their career, one wonders if this band even has a pull date.   I say keep the music comin'.

The third full-length album from this Los Angeles-based surf instrumental quartet has the power and grace of a 20-foot swell.   With dueling guitar action in the vein of Dick Dale, this band rips through 16 songs that would make The Ventures proud.   From blistering surf songs to drag tunes, Western themes, and space rockers, this album has pretty much everything except vocals.   There's even a nice longboard tune, "Dewey's Dead", dedicated to the late Dewey Weber, one of the legends of West Coast longboarding.   This band was formed in 1979 and has been performing sizzling surf tunes for better than two decades.   Only years of recording and performing can make a batch of musicians perform this tightly together.   It's majestic, it's hot, it's real surf music in the new millennium.   Check out some flaming guitar music at the band's Website www.chromeoxide.com/insect.htm.
-DUG

Insect Surfers have been hiding out for six years, but their new album is as polished as surf can get.   They play the dramatic sounds that accompany old-school tube riders from yesteryear, but in a rockin' way that's less minimalist and more full-sounding.   The insert has a photo of Dave Arnson and Co. playing at Staples Center!   After listening for a while, I get the feeling that these accomplished musicians can play anything.   "Freebird"? en

The Insect Surfers are being sponsored by Body Glove.