Surf’s up daddio…In Space! The Hamiltones new release is an epic modern take on the surf music genre as well as providing a fictional soundtrack to “an epic space opera, borrowing familiar themes and textures from mid-century sci-fi and superimposing them onto thoroughly modern surf rock”. It was a labour of love put together over 2-year by guitarist John Toohill, a man who is normally liquifying rock with his Science Man persona on albums like Nines Mecca and most recently exploring motorik territory as Brute Spring with the album Turquoise Window.
The opening track ‘Overture to The Hamiltones in Space’ is the album clearing the Earth’s atmosphere on solid fuel boosters powered by clanging guitar fuzz, Theremin woops and some fine Star Trek “aahs” from Lucy Bell.
Whether you have been spellbound by the fret-sliding dexterity of Dick Dale or just done swimming-arms to the Surfaris’ ‘Wipe Out’ at a wedding, it’s hard not to be totally swept away by the infectious power of The Hamiltones take on the genre. There are few styles of music that capture what they were inspired by, and surf music totally focuses the idea of being in harmony with the energy of the sea while you Hang Ten, ride Tubes and try not to Tombstone (yes, I looked up surfing terms).
This surfed-up-space-ride is built on the glint of Toohill’s scalpel-sharp guitar lines where the grit in the amp shimmers with spring reverb acting like a coiled cobra ready to calve glaciers with every cavernous judder. With Nick Reynolds on bass, Chris Scamurra on Drums and ethereal vocals from Lucy Bell this surfing squadron keep tight formation while traversing galaxies of sound on interstellar boards.
This is a glorious riot of classic sounds blended with modern swagger and The Hamiltones have tapped into the same ‘Power Cosmic’ that let the Silver Surfer traverse the galaxy faster than light. It’s a release so evocative you can taste the salt spray in your mouth.
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Review by Paul F Cook
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