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Audio Samples (MP3
Format): Coming Soon! |
Here's what the
press has said about 'Diggin'
For Gold':
Diggin' For Gold
is the latest compilation from Double Crown. Some of this has been out
before, some is new to release. A cool cross section of surf from all over
the place!
Picks: The Apemen 'Cor Steijn Rides The
Wild'-live, 'Toronado-live', Big Surf 'Ace 10', The Bitch Boys 'The Final
Ride', The Coffin Daggers 'Jack The Ripper', The Daytonas 'Sound Barrier',
'Mach One', The Dynotones 'Blue's Theme', The Incredible Sucking Spongies
'Sputniks Thema', The Kilaueas 'Giant', The Killer Bananazz 'Freaks Of
Nature', The Krontjong Devils 'Heartbeat', The Metalunas 'Hockey Night In
Canada', The Rev Hank's Twang Gang 'The Mysterious Mrs. Wong', The Sea
Lions 'Hevenu Shalom Alechem', Urban Surf Kings 'Radar Range'-live
THE KILAUEAS "Giant" 
"Giant" is a very Euro
instro with long echoed guitar lines an a rolling gate. Like a cross
between the Shadows, the Atlantics, and the Norse guitar sound, it's an
inviting track. Solid energy.
Euro Instrumental Stereo
THE SEA LIONS "Hevenu Shalom
Alechem" 
731553
As you might expect from a Dutch band, the Sea Lions play loud and hard
driving. "Shalom Alechem" is a traditional Jewish song,
covered before in a surf format only by Meshugga Beach Party. The
arrangement is quite different, with an emphasis on intensity and reverb
everywhere.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE INCREDIBLE SUCKING SPONGIES
"Sputniks Thema"
Die Sputniks' "Sputniks Thema"
is speedily pumped and shined, with grodie bass and rolling drums, and
near liquid guitar. A fine cover.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE SLEAZY SURFERS "Movin'"
Lee Hazelwood's rhythmic classic "Movin'"
is arranged in a straight forward manor, and recorded in a murky wash of
bass heavy rumble and relatively ambient drums. Sound quality aside, the
Sleazy Surfers do a credible if mostly typical version of the song.
Frat Surf Instrumental Mono
THE APEMEN "Cor Steijn Rides The
Wild" [live]
The amazing Apemen can do no wrong.
Through the mucky sound comes one of surfdom's hardest driving surfbands.
"Cor Steijn Rides The Wild" races along with big chords
and a genuine garage feel. More rock than surf stylistically, and
featuring tortured guitar lines, big fuzz chords, and whirling organ
mid-song, this is a tuff anthemic instrumental. the crowd is making huge
appreciative noises.
Surf Rock Instrumental Stereo
THE REV HANK'S TWANG GANG "The
Mysterious Mrs. Wong"
A classic Japanese riff opens and
carries the song. While it's derivative of the genre stereotype, it's also
interesting and fresh. "Mysterious Mrs. Wong" is a fun
lady to do the reverb hang with. The band was originally called Mr. Mumps
Twang Gang. This demo has surfaced before.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE DYNOTONES "Blue's Theme"
Davie Allan's anthem always gets a nod
from me. The harsh stereo guitars leaves a big hole in the aural middle
where indistinct bass mumbles over some fine drums work that's mostly lost
in the mix. This is a spirited and very fun performance. Remix please!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE BITCH BOYS "The Final
Ride"
The final ride is a fine melody with
twang and spunk, and delicate double picking that gives it an almost
Italian holiday sound. Slithery glissandoes round out a warm and
adventurous track. Very nice.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE DAYTONAS "Sound Barrier"
731697
Engines rumble to a start and scream off into the distance providing an
entre for the Daytonas to launch into "Sound Barrier."
The guitar is a little thin guitar and the sound murky. A fine melody riff
and lots of energy, with the feel of a single from the day less the high
end. The mix is about as murky as it gets, like being under the stadium.
The song has been around for many years. Always good to hear the Daytonas
in instrumental mode.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE METALUNAS "Hockey Night In
Canada"
731305
The Metalunas play a great instro in lo-fi mono. A fine melody and a solid
arrangement as always, this very surf instro is pleasing, but would be
more so if recorded better. Solid playing, great writing... Mark Brodie is
an original.
Surf Instrumental Mono
THE COFFIN DAGGERS "Jack The
Ripper"
This is an aggressive sustained
performance of Link Wray's "Jack The Ripper." The organ
whirling gives it a sense of innocent insanity while the guitar retains
the piercing drive. The extreme vibrato verse is very appealing. This
version has grown on me over time. Pretty cool.
Link Rock Instrumental Stereo
THE KILLER BANANAZZ "Freaks Of
Nature"
Big whammy chords, racing drums and
modern guitar tone slice through the night with a jagged razor's edge. The
trumpet bridges are an interesting contrast to the main guitar riffs. Cool
stuff.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE KRONTJONG DEVILS
"Heartbeat"
The Avengers VI's great "Heartbeat"
is not often covered. The always loud and reverb laden Krontjong Devils do
a large back of the hall version of this cool obscuro. Rock solid and
dripping full-track reverb, it's both murky and intense.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
URBAN SURF KINGS "Radar Range"
[live]
USK caught live in full force with
"Radar Range" all reverbed out and intense. The live
recording is a little oddly mixed, but the band's energy really comes
through, as does their skill. It's a great song.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
SPEED CHICKEN "Skela Shuffle"
Speed Chicken plays a fun and rompin'
country instro with an unchanging riff. A little too repetitious, but
loaded with light hearted fun. Finger lickin', chicken pickin',
red-checkered table cloth music for a Sunday outing.
Country Instrumental Mono
SURF ME UP, SCOTTY! "Downhill
Madness"
"Downhill Madness" is
an interesting instro with vibrato throb and "Mashi"-inspired
organ swirls. The female narration lines add nothing to the song from a
surf perspective, but with so much frat rock influence, it, along with the
sampled intro and outro, work OK. An ultra murky recording awash in reverb
and indiscreet sound.
Frat Surf Instrumental Stereo
BIG SURF "Ace 10"
A pinch of suave, some vibrato shimmer,
a dose of quirk, and a dash of pepper... yes, it's kinda like that.
Complex and mathematical, liquid and dangerous, and moody. "Ace 10"
is an intriguing track.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE DROOL BROTHERS "Gals Side
B" 
Aside from the interesting intro, "Gals
Side B" is just a rock instro with a few glissandoes and a nod to
the rock side of Southern Culture on the Skids. The long feedback is cool,
almost haunting. The mix of sounds from lounge to feedback howl is
interesting. The vocal is fun. Other than occasional glissandoes, there's
no connection to surf I can detect.
Lounge Rock Vocal Stereo
THE APEMEN "Toronado" [live]
The ever loud Apemen dust off their fine
stomper "Toronado." Thicker than ever, and with exactly
the intense energy you would expect from these Dutch madmen. Cool!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
THE BITCH BOYS "Mach One" 
Dueling double picked guitars wail on
the bridges in this fine track. Rich Mediterranean rhythms and a catchy
melody line combine for a solid surf ride at high speed. An excellent
track!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
JONNIE DOG AND THE DINGOS "Loralei"
"Loralei" is a slow
song with a warm, slightly haunted sound. It flows slowly like a summer
river, with swirling guitar and more imagery than melody. A soft mood for
a warm daydream.
Swirling Surf Instrumental Stereo
--Phil Dirt (www.reverbcentral.com)
The grizzled miners at Double Crown
Records have prospected all over the globe to dig up these 21 previously
unreleased 24-karat nuggets for your aural pleasure.
--Zptdudamusic.com Review
'Diggin'
For Gold'
has been played stations all over the world, including: KFJC - Phil Dirt,
KDHX - The Wayback Machine, KFAI - Radio Rumpus Room, WUSB - Rock N' Roll
Dance Party, KCR - A Day At The Beach, WOBC - 91.5 FM, WFMU - The Push
Bin, Tsunami Soul Radio Show, WFMU - Three Chord Monte |
