39 tracks on this double album
White boy 023 | australia | 04/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a Ubiquity record, a soundtrack, to surfing documentary/film 'Under The Sun'
and it came out late 2008. The soundtrack has nearly 40 songs on it, mostly
from Ubiquity artist Shawn Lee and also some Australian bands, the Band Of Frequencies,
Low Pressure Sound System and Afro Dizzi Act.
Shawn Lee's tracks are short and punchy and definitely upbeat with a surf flavour,
Shawn Lee (London based) has plenty of albums through Ubiquity (US label) and
most of them are really good. 'Afro Surf' is track two and almost feels like you are
in Indonesia listening to a funk band. 'Capricorn' has that street edge, up-tempo
guitar licks and a solid blues based groove. 'Hollisday' sounds like a surf inspired
track, but not in a Beach Boys or Dick Dale way, more like piano, organ, harmonica
and no vocals, ethereal, the track '1994' has a similar flavour, lovely percussion.
'Murf the Surf' is pretty funky, as is 'Rabbits revenge' with the walking bass. '
Erotic Drums' is again street urban, modern but not in an electronic way,
'Nice Dream' can be that though. 'Rabbit' is funk.
The Australian bands have their own disc in this two disc package,
and there is some really nice stuff in there too, mostly instrumental,
but not just 'surf music'. There are a couple of tracks from the
Band Of Frequencies which are verging on rock, but in a good way,
rock with some soul, tracks like 'Dylans Wings' and 'Sol Train.'
Afro Dizzi Act track 'the drop off' was one of my favorites, with
lovely guitar tones an instrumental at 10:10 starts slow and builds
into a beautiful guitar pattern with nice Rhodes piano and drumming
that breaks down into like a dub session. 'Deep Dish' by the
Band Of Frequencies has a nice double bass groove and trumpet lines
that give it that jazz sort of edge, but more like a remixed jazz edge
than a Miles Davis jazz edge. The track 'Storm Front' builds to a
wonderful crescendo by drummer Terepai Richmond,
All over, very happy with this soundtrack. An eclectic array
of sounds that made me want to look further into the music
of these bands. I really enjoyed this album and think people
into Shawn Lee and instrumental music with like a funk
fusion edge should check it out."
Track Listings (28) - Disc #1