Tangled Up In Blue

Kelp

Underwater Journey

1998

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"Phil Says" Track by Track:

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Kelp Underwater Journey 4 stars (out of 5)

Paul Fritz - Guitar

Todd Buranen - Bass

Sean Stark - Drums (KFJC session)

Chris McCall - Drums (KXLU session)

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Santa Barbara's Kelp has finally issued a CD, entirely from tracks recorded on Phil Dirt's Surf's Up (KFJC) and Jim Dunfrund's Surf Waves (KXLU). Great consistent sound, exceptionally fine playing, unique and inspired writing, and a completely different surf sound. Digital reverb drenched, intelligent, and urgent.

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"El Alacran" 4 stars Live at KXLU on Jim Dunfrund's Surf Wave show, this is a haunting and mysterious track, rhythmic and dramatic. The seaweed are attacking the surfers. The progression supports a swirling melody line, with lots of psychotropic wave action. Great listening.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Guardrail" 3 stars This original is more a progression and an atmosphere than a song. This KFJC session creates an intense visual of relentless water like might accompany a stormy surf ride in a video.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Happy As A Clam" 4 stars Debating the relative joy of a bivalve mollusk aside, this KFJC track is indeed a happy song, with a highly infectious hook, and a speed driven double picked lead line. It not only laughs with you, it also growls and howls. This is a fine song destined to be a modern classic.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Piece Of The Action" 4 stars A slow and slithery intro builds gradually to moderately paced song with a meandering melody line. The overall effect is of a semi-chunky atmospheric piece with both gentility and ominous warnings. The construction of the ambiance is accomplished through a meandering around the base chords on guitar, while the bass and drums carry a beat that is not suggested by the guitar lines, but compliments them well. This is from KFJC.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Valiant" 4 stars From KXLU, this is a crystalline track, with an artsy blue intro, and a haunted ambiance. It is a slow-mid tempo track, with eerie corners, and a melodic lead line. It swims with a swooshing fluidity, and an almost Mermen structure. Very nice track. Like the subtitle to Hey Gyp reads, "dig the slowness."Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Shrimp Cocktail" 4 stars This KXLU track is rhythmic and chunky, with a throbbing drive, and an almost middle eastern churning cadence. It swirls like a whirling dervish on a 9'6" McCoy. Brilliant use of rhythm sync on the lead guitar keeps this double picked monster churning like the eddies in level 5 whitewater.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Deadly Creature Below" 3 stars Long drawn-out chords introduce a dribbling double picked track that is somewhat similar to "Narcosis," but differently delivered and intoned. This has a more relentless less dimensional quality to it. It is wet and slithery, and the playing is quite good. Plenty of energy. It also sports a more-or-less dramatic change mid song, which quickly returns to the speedy powerful main theme. from KFJC.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Underwater Journey" 4 stars This KFJC track is a slow and moody piece that creates it's ghostly drifting vision on solo guitar, then finds gentle drums and bass in support rising to the surface. It's a nice track, with a simple and almost aromatic character, like smelling the specter of the shark before you see it. Very cool song. There are several changes here, with an arrangement not without prog influences - complex and intelligent.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Narcosis" 4 stars Excess nitrogen and a rolling melody introduction give this an infectious track an extra breath of life. It meanders joyously through an unusual progressive melody, and is supported by a solid bass and drum rhythm, section. This track also appears on the "Surfin' Sundays" surf museum benefit CD. From KFJC.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"The Road To Islay" 3 stars Urgent, intense, uneasy, and yet confident and cool. A relentless grinding dribbling of double picked notes, issued forth with considerable energy, and touches of ska lurking in the background. A strong though constant melody, with a natural bridge. From KXLU.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"The Liquidator" 4 stars This is ominous, intriguing, and trad based, with bits of spy and punkoidal rockabilly in the drums. It's interestingly structured, with unusual changes and melody lines, and a lot of drama. From KXLU.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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"Last Call" 3 stars An almost lounge lizard variation on the South Sea island ethic. Is it a last call before the bar closes, or the last call to the surf? I vote the latter, since the bar wasn't open when they played. It has a fine lilting melody, and an imagery of fresh salt air. From KFJC.Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Stereo

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http://rapidshare.com/files/232764396/Kelp_-_Underwater_Journey.rar