Label: Hi-Tide Recordings
Reverb, Sax, and Retro Drip: The Babalooneys Deliver a Masterclass in Traditional Surf Rock
The Babalooneys are a vibrant instrumental surf rock band from Québec, Canada. While their playful, whimsical name suggests otherwise, they command great respect in the modern surf community for their authentic, high-quality “Go Sound,” featuring lush guitar tones, energetic rhythms, and faithful 1960s-inspired style.
They are currently signed to Hi-Tide Recordings, a premier modern record label for surf, lounge, and exotic sounds. Goin' For It! was certainly an exceptionally anticipated release from the community.
The retro artwork looks like something right out of the 60s, an absolute match for their music.
What a perfect way to start things off with a title like “Waveline.” Right out the gate, the retro drip kicks in, and you are immediately transported back to when the first wave came rolling in at the Southern California venues. The exceptionally clear and crisp guitar reverberates nicely as the bass and drums maintain the rhythm, then the saxophone arrives for a short burst to put the icing on the cake. We are off to a great start with twelve more tracks to go!
“Soup Surfer” keeps the engines humming as the sax accompanies the guitar’s transitions, then recedes to the foreground before returning to the front of their sound. The bass and drums are steady and true.
“Kick Turn” has a driving bass this time, with the guitar tastefully adding its notes. The drums are moving along steadily and hold the rhythm down nicely. This is the band in full bloom, with a more rock-oriented sound that doesn’t lose its traditional surf roots, and, of course, the saxophone adds its flavor to the mix. This is the kind of surf instro I fell in love with back in the early 90s.
“Foam Breaker” keeps the energy high with a fast-moving bottom end and transitioning guitar with echoes and reverb; the sax arrives with a tasteful swagger, adding an extra layer of movement that makes it sound both original and like a blast from the past. Superb guitars at work here.
“Stroker McGurk’s” is very melodic, and the way the sax is folded in gives it more energy and fullness. The beat is perfect, coming from the drums and bass (as usual), as the guitar’s notes signal once again that the first wave of influence remains their core influence.
“Rovin’ With Norma” has an irresistible rhythm and tasteful guitar running throughout. The sax drops into the lower register, sounding like the 50s, this time to give a meatier sound to complement the guitar’s travels.
“Flinch” continues, their energy reaching a crescendo as the guitar and sax complement each other, with the bottom end providing strong support. The change here is the voices coming together to create a ruckus, like a rooting section at a football game. This one is a real mover!
“Pomona
Fireball” takes a wide turn into a different world with a decidedly Latin
flavor: the percussion comes in first, then the hot-rod sounds, then boom! a
dramatic shift (like literally changing gears) into a higher energy surf rock
sound that you have become accustomed to.
There is a lot happening on this track, and before you know it, it’s over, but that’s the way this music unfolds. They are very talented at packing in as much as possible in under three minutes!
“Curb Surfin'” continues with their infectious rhythms and toe-tapping sounds. The guitar is on fire here, transitioning from fast picking to more rhythmic bursts as the backend moves along like the high-powered engine that has been driving them through this recording.
“Cup O' Coffee” features the drums this time, and does he ever wail! Just under two minutes of percussive virtuosity! Don’t expect to grab a cup and relax to this one!
“Time Slip” feels like being on a surfboard on a hot summer day as that sax wails away again, and some very tasteful guitar playing helps to create that atmosphere we have come to love through this picturesque music. Time slip with the drip indeed!
“Locked In” brings back the heavier bass and sax layer as the guitar’s tremolo rules the day once again. This is their longest track at 3:04 and one of my favorites. Everything about this music is what I love about the genre: the driving rhythms, the reverberating guitar notes, and the swanky sax. This is the complete package of retro surf instro, excellent.
“Overcast” winds up this classic surf instro recording with a precisely paced rhythm section, while the guitar and sax lay down a more pragmatic layer of instrumentation. This is a definitive full stop ending to an otherwise highly energetic presentation of trad surf instro. The title most certainly fits the sound here.
Goin’ For It! stands as a testament to The Babalooneys' remarkable musicianship and their ability to capture the essence of classic surf-instrumental music. Their dedication ensures that the genre’s enduring spirit and originality remain vibrant for us, longtime fans, and new generations of listeners.
The Babalooneys are:
Richard Bourque: Guitare
Martin Dorval: Saxophone
Chany Lagueux: Batterie
Antoine Pelletier: Basse
Jean Sirois: Guitare
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder
May 30, 2026
P.S. Are you in a band? Submit for the Golden Wave Award here!
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