Cowabunga! Surf is on wax thanks to Maryland’s own Agent Octopus. On their new release Blue Eyed Surf, the boys cut to the chase with 11 hard groovin’ instrumentals that hang on the long history of surf rock while at the same time pushing it forward. For a few years now the band has been making waves up and down the east coast and appearing on surf compilations for Bongo Boy Records, becoming ingrained in their scene and honing a tight live sound.
On this set, the guitar is the star, and lead player Agent Shadowhawk’s melodic sense and effortless phrasing is a delight on the ears. The guitar tones are watery and driving. The interplay between Shadowhawk and rhythm guitarist Agent Giles Latte is a well choreographed dance around the propulsive drum and bass of Agent Von Cleavage and Agent Viktor Martini, respectably. The recording and mix is colorful and dynamic, a perfect blend of smooth and crisp. Agent Octopus has an interesting conceptual sense when it comes to the arrangements of these songs. The dark and threatening “King Kong’s Revenge!” comes to mind immediately for its sharp use of guitar scratches and a plodding tom and timpani beat in the bridge section that evokes cinema’s most famous giant ape on the offensive. The first and last tracks are sister songs separated mostly by tone. Opener “Sleeping With Fishes” is brighter and more energetic, representative of a sunrise while closing track “Sleeping With Fishes Too” is a bit chiller and a bit darker, coming off as the equivalent of a sunset. This perceived sense of Blue Eyed Surf’s bookends as the framework of a day accurately encapsulates this project’s intended use as a soundtrack to those slow days spent beach side, letting the vastness of the ocean and the heat of the sun wash over you. For fans of surf rock in the style of The Shadows with a modern twist and excellent recording quality, Blue Eyed Surf is a real vibe.
1 Comment
Art Svrjcek
2/6/2020 06:01:34 pm
Ryan,
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