Shadowymen On A Shadowy Planet Tribute

have to admit, some tributes are hit or miss -- you may like some tracks, but some of the covers may sound flat or uninspired, falling short of originals' level of quality -- BUT NOT SO HERE.
With this release, the opposite is true. The songs take a new life of their own and the end result is a genuine treasure. I've bought my share of instro tributes, but this one is better than all.
The reason? I have to guess that it's got a lot to do with The Shadowy Men's status as one of the forefathers of the third wave of Surf Instro, and being a seminal band in both the US and Canada.
Don't miss out on this one. A++ all the way.

1. Good Cop Bad Cop 2. Zombie Compromise 3. Shake Some Evil - Mulchmen 4. Egypt Texas - Insect Surfers 5. Customized 6. Harlem by the Sea 7. Having an Average Weekend 8. Reid's Situation - Spy-Fi 9. Aunt's Invasion - The Sandblasters 10. Hot Box Car 11. Jackpot 12. Ben Hur Picked off in a Gazebo - Pop Defect, 13. Siesta Cinema 14. Unwatchable/Three Piece Suit - Squid Vicious 15. That Wuz Ear Me Callin' a Horse - Breakfastime 16. Spy School Graduation Theme - Squid Vicious 17. Mecca 18. Algoma Reflections - The Sadies 19. Peas Porridge Rock/You Spin Me Round '86 - The Surfdusters 20. They Don't Call Them Chihuahuas Anymore 21. Off Our Back Conrad Black - The Sawney Bean Band 22. Memories of Gay Paree

hereyougo

Shark Quest - Man on Stilts

With the emergence in the 1990s and 2000s of Scenic, Friends of Dean Martinez, Vivid Low Sky (the last of whom, like Shark Quest, are also from Chapel Hill), and now Shark Quest, there seems to be a mini-vogue for instrumental indie rock with a cinematic, desert-sweeping grandeur. This mine-genre is so small (and probably unlucrative) that it's impossible to accuse Shark Quest of bandwagon jumping. Nonetheless, for those familiar with the other acts named above, they'll spark unavoidable comparisons. Not so much to Vivid Low Sky (who, despite sharing the same hometown, have a harsher and more dissonant rock aesthetic) as to Friends of Dean Martinez, in the bent for twanging guitars and a certain Southwestern border feel. With both Friends of Dean Martinez and Scenic, there's an affinity with the soundtrack drama of Ennio Morricone. What, then, makes Shark Quest stand apart? It could be that they're more eclectic than any of those other groups, particularly via the folk influence added by Sara Bell's mandolin and banjo. There are unexpected sounds such as the "Shaft-like guitar on "Crazy Laura," and the classical cello on "Kell." The compositions and melodies are moody and haunting, the tempos and instrumentally varied. It's still more suitable for ambient diversion than foreground excitement, but it's a nicely done, decently imaginative recording.All Music review

 1 Chicken Strings
2 All Ball
3 Race Dragging
4 Sesame Hijack
5 Crazy Laura
6 Kell
7 Hugging Is Affecting China
8 Here Sparky
9 Clocks In The Arctic

higherup

Shark Quest - Gods and Devils

After a lengthy hiatus, Shark Quest returns with Gods and Devils, a collection of pieces featuring works used as the soundtrack to a work by self-taught counterculture animator Bruce Bickford and also in Monster Road, a documentary on the animator's life and rarely seen work. Much of the album is quite animated-sounding, particularly the opening track, "The Rosetta Barrage," which, with its intricate mandolins and twangy guitars, sounds a little like an Appalachian take on a spaghetti Western theme by Ennio Morricone. Morricone's name is often bandied about, along with those of Friends of Dean Martinez and Calexico, when discussing Shark Quest, and for good reason: all of these artists share an exquisite sense of mood and atmosphere. Hints of surf bands like the Ventures pop up on the darkly lovely "Sin the Moon," and while tracks such as "Three Ivy Leaves" still feel like part of a soundtrack rather than a stand-alone work, an air of restrained mystery runs through Gods and Devils. However, the album's best moments, such as the spooky epic "Katherine of Krakow," have more than enough presence in their own right. The wide array of instruments used in Gods and Devils' arrangements -- which include steel guitar, marimbas, all kinds of percussion, and a water bottle -- give the album more color and texture than the group's previous work. A dreamy but involving listening experience, Gods and Devils marks an important step forward for Shark Quest. ~ Heather Phares

Rosetta Barrage        
Sin the Moon        
Three Ivy Leaves        
Shivers        
Katherine of Krakow        
Gibbous Orisha        
Furies On Fire

goodnessgracious

Shark Quest -- Battle of the Loons

Blending beautiful guitar melodies with inspired beats and producing a sound that might be like "surf jazz", the band continues to impress. Each track in this album is long enough to enjoy the music, but short enough to hold the listener's interest until the next song plays. Musically, this album is quite diverse. Each track sounds like it could be coming from a different band. This album makes me wish I had synesthesia. I would be smelling roses, seeing a kaleidoscope of colors, and tasting gourmet cuisine. Many different soundscapes. I recommend for lovers of jazz or rock, for the album could easily be considered either one.

1. Blake Carrington 2. Kool's America 3. Baii 4. Ellen's Theme
5. Lunch At Sara's 6. Dead Turkey Gulch 7. Armadillotron
8. In A Dive 9. 5 Dollars

shkqo

Requests - Reposts

Requests


Hi all - life is getting back to normal a bit so I'll be more active here. Thanks for your concern for my wife - she is doing better and that is a relief.


Please put your requests for reposts and stuff you would like to see in the comments section - I'll do my best to fulfill.

Thanks

G

Red Planets Chases Lead to Crashes

  A combination of vintage instrumental rock sounds reminiscent of teenage dance parties and movies soundtracks from the 1950s and early 1960s. This is the sound of beach parties, camping in the desert, and good guys fighting bad guys. Slightly psych influenced tunz. Excellent.

Apologies in advance - this is a continuous file. I've been too busy with work and dealing with my wife's poor health to cut  this into the single tracks. Figured you'd rather have it as is than not at all until I got to it. Thanks for your understanding. George 

BIG  SHOUT  Out to 1.FCN for splitting file into single cuts.  Thanks, buddy. Much appreciated.


1. Chases Lead To Crashes     2:49    
2  The Birdbee's Revenge     2:31    
3  Tolling For Whom?     3:12    
4 At It Again     2:10    
5 The Doors Swung Open     2:29    
6 The Big Churn     2:51    
7 Get Thee Behind Me
8 Between The Spaces     2:21    
9 Swooning  3:07    
10 Dance Maraton, Hour 36  2:37    
11 Having What You're Having     2:49    
12 Hey Ya! 3:19


long file
marsattacks

separate track file
marswins

Automatic Fine Tuning - A.F.T.

In 1976, guitarists Paul A. MacDonnell and Robert Cross, bass player Trevor Darks and drummer/vocalist Dave Ball joined their considerable skills and produced one of the greatest but nearly forgotten heavy progressive projects, Automatic Fine Tuning. Doing an early form of neo-classical instrumental rock that predates the gothic harmonies and Paganini-love of Michael Schenker and Yngwie Malmsteen, the quartet boldly went where few rock ensembles had and recorded one brilliant album before disbanding. ” One of my TOP 10 of ALL TIME. 38 minutes of pure driving guitar, bass and drum. You will not be disappointed.

Happy Easter y'all!

Tracklist:
01. The Great Panjandrum Wheel Pt.One
02. Gladioli
03. The Great Panjandrum Wheel Pt.Two
04. Queen of the Night

greatrarerock

Quantum Fantay - Bridges Of Kukuriku

Quantum Fantay are a Flemish space-rock band, who formed in the early/mid 00s, and in the last few years have released a number of albums (this is their fourth). All of them are excellent and these albums, along with their NEARFest performance, have propelled them into the international arena. Like their obvious heros, Gong and the Ozric Tentacles, there's lots of flute, keyboards, guitars and a supple rhythm section, but they've got a sound that also reflects the 00s and keeps it all new sounding. Great instro long form twang. This is direction I'm moving in this blog - let me know what you think.

Tracklist:
01. Kukuriku Part 1
02. Follow The Star
03. Shiver Moments
04. Portable Forest
05. Counter Clockwise
06. Kukuriku Part 2

spacynicestuff

VA - Rare Surf, Vol 06

“ Rare Surf, Vol. 6, contains almost no surf records at all, save for the lead track, Don Hinson's "Monster Surf Stomp." What it does contain, though, are a bunch of rare hot rod songs from the vault of Capitol Records and some pop stuff from the same era (early '60s). Most of the tracks are fairly generic, although if you're into the car-song genre, then this disc is a treasure trove. Highlights include a pair of barroom saxophone instrumentals ("Cruisin'," "When Johnny Comes Slidin' Home") by the Hollywood Vines and Sharon Marie's brisk run-through of the Gershwin chestnut "Summertime," which clocks in at well under two minutes in length. Also included is one of Brian Wilson's most elaborate early productions, "Guess I'm Dumb," sung by Glen Campbell. ”

Tracklist:
01 - Don Hinson - Monster Surf Stomp
02 - Susan Lynne - Don't Drag No More
03 - Susan Lynne - In His Car
04 - Four Preps - 26 Miles (To Santa Catalina)
05 - Hollywood Vines - Cruisin'
06 - Hollywood Vines - When Johnny Comes Slidin' Home
07 - Super Stocks - Wide Track
08 - Super Stocks - Four On The Floor
09 - Super Stocks - Street Machine
10 - Super Stocks - Cheater Slicks
11 - Sharon Marie - Runaround Lover
12 - Sharon Marie - Summertime
13 - Sharon Marie - The Story Of My Life
14 - Sharon Marie - Thinkin' 'bout You Baby
15 - Storytellers - I Don't Want An Angel
16 - Hot Rod Rog - Little Street Machine
17 - Hot Rod Rog - Repossession Blues
18 - Shutdown Douglas - Flash Falcon
19 - Shutdown Douglas - Night Rod
20 - Shutdown Douglas - Twin Cut-outs
21 - Shutdown Douglas - Woody Walk
22 - Eligibles - Car Trouble
23 - Johnny Burnette - Sweet Suzie
24 - Glen Campbell - Guess I'm Dumb
25 - Survivors - After The Game
26 - Survivors - Pamela Jean
27 - Richie Allen - Stranger From Durango
28 - Richie Allen - Nothing Good
29 - Cheers - Chicken
30 - Cheers - Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots
31 - Visitors - Theme From 'the Wild Angels'
32 - Johnny Bond - Hot Rod Lincoln
33 - Davie Allen & The Arrows - Stranger From Durango

rarestuffbuddie

Pavlov's Woody - Instrumentality

Pavlov's Woody was created as a vehicle to obtain specimens of modern day surfers and transport them to the Pavlov's Institute of Reverb Therapy for behavior modification experiments related to the exposure of 60's style reverb saturated surf-music in a safe and controlled laboratory environment. They cover many traditional tunes with just enough individuality to keep them fresh. While a disc of covers can be a turnoff to some, when a band personalizes each track like this, giving it a new face while retaining the original kernel, it can be a rewarding adventure. Good Stuff.

01. Lumpy Gravy (0:05)
02. White Water (1:53)
03. Ramrod (2:22)
04. Mr Moto (1:35)
05. Banzai Pipeline (2:15)
06. Switchblade (3:04)
07. El Conquistador (3:05)
08. Guitarget (1:43)
09. Peter Gunn (2:52)
10. Paradise Cove (3:22)
11. Surf Odyssey (0:15)
12. Goofy Foot (3:20)
13. Soul Surfer (4:37)
14. Surface Tension (3:19)
15. Scratch (2:28)
16. Ace of Spades (2:52)
17. Pipeline (2:27)
18. Nebulizer (3:41)
19. Extremely Lumpy Gravy (2:17)
20. Soul Surfin' (3:27)
21. Surf Rider (2:28)
22. Pintor (2:21)
23. Surfing Drums (2:32)
24. Delete 1 (3:15)
25. Delete 2 (4:45)

woodywell