[.ca] Nomad

From Amazon.com:
While the Aqua Velvets have been at the forefront of the surf revival, their music is no slavish rehash of the genre's past glories. Instead the group offers an intriguing mix of surf stylings alongside a more complex menu of echo-laden Ennio Morricone-style spaghetti-Western soundtrack music, Latin rhythms, shimmering psychedelia, and ultrahip lounge lizardry. Nomad is their third and most accomplished effort, thanks to the sensual sway of the title track opener, the gradually building intensity of "Surf Nouveau," the evocative (and wonderfully titled) "Smoking Panatelas on the Blue Mediterranean Sea," and the roiling "Holly Tiki." And that's just the first four tracks. Overall, Nomad offers the perfect accompaniment for your next surfin' safari or even a quiet evening on the couch. --Daniel Durchholz

very cool reverb guitar work:
If you like the sound of reverb guitar, you'll like this cd. These guys drag Dick Dale style surf guitar into the 21st century, and they do it with a cool style.

Wow. Awesome sounds from first to last:
This is one of the best albums of any type of music that I have ever heard. I could listen to this all day. The first time I played it I thought, this is pretty good, but each time I played it I liked it more and more. This is great in the car, as background music or through the headphones. This music is clean, the instruments are distinct and the melody line is interesting. Overall the album is on the mellow side but this ain't lite-FM this is surf guitar.

Westward! Hey! Wait a minute!:
Everybody's saying how great this is. To me, it doesn't sound like a real band is playing at all. It sounds like some really intelligent musician used a piano/midi/computer and composed nine cool tunes. #10 sounds like something on a Windham Hill sampler and #11 sounds like a Steve Tibetts piece-Hey I like WH and ST but this is supposed to be Aqua Velvets. There's no vocals and 2-3 seconds between each tune---sort of like a demo sent by some musician. Three stars because the music sounds cool; but after #10 and #11 I couldn't get into #12. I'm not buying anymore of this stuff.***COUGH**COUGH**

Very Cool Reverb/Surf Guitar:
If you're into reverb, surfing, or just like playing around with an electric guitar, you'll really like this CD. This is not grandfather's Dick Dale/Ventures surf guitar sound, but rather a much cooler, smoother reverb style. Very innovative, cool and very reverb.

Surfin' Samples:
Almost all of the Aqua Velvets music sounds like computer/midi samples. Too pristine and antiseptic and this "band" could definitely use a more acoustic or live soundstage. I have no problem with the Martin Denny or Les Baxter exotica/noir lounge jazz sound , just that it does not have the earthy presence of "live" instruments. It is possible to achieve this acoustic mix even with a computer. Just listen to "Surf Mania" their original release from the early 90s and check out the very "live" vibe brought to "Hawaiian Blue" by Donn Spindt's drums.

• Nomad
• Surf Nouveau
• Smoking Panatelas on the Blue Mediterranean Sea
• Holly Tiki
• Snorkel Mask Replica
• Return to Paia
• Ho'okipa
• In a Spanish Mood
• Nervous on Neptune
• Summer at Dreampoint
• Shakahoochie
• Shrunken Head