Merrell Fankhauser and the
island of Maui have a strong connection. The artist lived there for 14 years, during
which Maui became a hotspot for UFO sightings. Fankhauser not only experienced
these phenomena himself but also came to know the people who were eyewitnesses
to those events, forming the basis of his unique perspective and musical
inspiration.
Rainbow Bridge Revisited is a CD/DVD set that
Fankhauser put together for Gonzo Multimedia and was released in June of this
year. It offers a unique blend of music, interviews, and original footage,
making it a must-have for fans of surf rock and UFO phenomena. Fankhauser's
ability to translate his experiences into music has carved out a unique niche,
and this set is a testament to his multifaceted talent.
Rainbow Bridge, the original movie,
was the Jimi Hendrix movie. Fankhauser sets out to interview some of the
remaining cast members of that movie. On the DVD, you get firsthand accounts of
UFO sightings through interviews and original footage of surfers set to some of
Merrell's great surf rock tracks. This unique blend of music and UFO stories,
including the classic and appropriate "Calling From A Star," Will pique
your interest. The rocking surf tunes set the tone. One of my all-time favorites
and the best Merrell has ever performed is "Monster Swell." The track
is filled with all the drama and unpredictability of the ocean. The song goes
through several changes and is a complete surf-rock masterpiece. "Wild
Gyrations" is another classic that will put the sun in your heart, the
beach's warm sand on your toes, and images of surfers riding the immense waves
of the Hawaii surf.
Although
the footage of the surfers is quite old, it conveys the theme and location
quite well. If you are looking for an HD-quality video, this is not it. If you
appreciate up-close interviews, hearing about experiences of UFO sightings, and
surf rock music, then you will love this set.
Merrell
has always done a terrific job providing fascinating stories, interviewing
people with tales, and adding great music to complete the experience. His
dedication and passion for this project are truly admirable, and it's something
you, as a fan, will surely appreciate.
Watching
and listening to all this puts your head elsewhere, offering a different
perspective. Some of the people being interviewed were spaced-out old hippies, but you cannot deny some of
the events that have taken place on the islands of Hawaii. These accounts are
just a part of the long history of extraterrestrial sightings that have been
witnessed over the years, a history that you, as a fan of surf rock and UFO
phenomena, are undoubtedly part of. What makes it unique is the involvement of Merrell
Fankhauser, one of the most respected and admired musical talents ever
known. This is a documentary you will not want to miss!
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder MuzikReviews.com
Some bands click with you immediately, and I love it when that
happens because I never expected it. Hola Ghost is one of those bands that I
like the most. They call their music Mexican Death Metal (which may refer more to
their makeup than their music). It is challenging to define their sound, so you
must decide what that is for yourself if you enjoy them as much as I do. Their
music uniquely blends rock, metal, surf, and a little country. I had been
listening to them for weeks, waiting for the vinyl to arrive.
Here's some background: Hola Ghost started as a duo in 2007,
creating the soundtrack for the American horror comedy movie Cannibal
Flesh Riot! by Academy Award winner Gris Grimly. The band was
formed by Peter Sandorff (ex-Nekromantix) on vocals and guitar, Jeppe B. Jessen
on bass, and the haunted drum machine Ghost 707. Later, drummer Kristian
Sandorff (ex-Nekromantix) took over drum duties, skillfully replacing the
machine's haunted beats. The band has since evolved, adding a horn section,
"The Haunted Horns," to their live and recording crew.
Chupacabra, Hate & Fight are two previously released EPs bundled into one LP with two
bonus tracks and one new track, "Iron Reich." It is available via
Svart Records in three exclusive vinyl editions: magenta, solid magenta/black
splatter, and classic black. All this will be packaged with a printed inner
sleeve containing lyrics and a collage of rare and previously unreleased
photos. There'll also be a limited CD edition of this fantastic compilation
album.
Side A opens with the explosive "Chupacabra" (a
mythical creature from Mexican folklore). The guitar sounds fuzzy, with effects
starting with a definite Spanish flavor (which you will often hear along with
the horns, which have the same cultural sounds). It is a fantastic opener that
gets those juices flowing to rock out more, and you will. Peter Sandorff has a
unique vocal style that you can recognize, separating him from all the others.
And that is a good thing. This is my favorite track; I can't get enough of it.
"Mexico" starts with the haunted horns (ala Herb
Alpert and the TJB), then a slick guitar comes in nice and slow, and then boom!
It explodes into a wave of sound. They are very adept at playing this way and
constantly keep you on your toes in anticipation. The guitar playing is fast
from the electric six-string with some acoustic lines added. Here, you cannot
miss their Mexican death metal moniker. A few surf runs are also added; they
run up and down the neck of the guitar like a round from a live machine gun.
Then, another super-fast surf segment takes hold with an extended instrumental
break and good guitar work with solid bass and drums. All of this makes for a
very entertaining toe-tapping rocker.
"Soldadera" is heavy metal initially, but then it
reverts to surf guitar lead (which is very cool; I love it). The bass and drums
are tight and hold steady. What you will hear is an excellent instrumental. The
horns add another mystique to their sound, as the only words they sing are
"Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro" (1-2-3-4). The rapid picking is in the
glissando style, which relates to the surf intro music.
"Copenhagen Gringo” (By the way, that is where they are
from) is a country-tinged track with catchy rhythms and a step away from all
the previous tracks, but very good.
Side B opens with a rousing manner with "Hate." They
sing, "Hate, follow Me." This dark but energetic tune has a
super-spirited bottom end pounding away. Typically, some fine guitar work
populates the track with an exciting merging of many sounds towards the end
when it all reaches a boil, then slows down with those contagious horns from
hell assisted by a melodic bass line and guitar that leads you into a
mesmerizing instrumental run and they sing "To love and let die."
This was the segue from the previous track and an exciting twist that you must
pay attention to while listening.
"Fight" is a good follow-up. The band plays, and the
vocal screams out, "Hate! Fight! Ghost Brothers! Come on and join the
fight." This one is rockin' at warp speed. The vocals are outstanding, as
unusual as they may sound to some people. It may be that way at first, but with
that rough edge, it's ideally suited to their music, and you will appreciate it
quickly. Just listen, and you will see what I mean.
"Funeral March" is a slow burner with acoustic guitar
and horns for that perfect recipe and atmosphere of death and a feeling that
you are watching this happen in Mexico. An extended instrumental run plays
before the wind blows for more effect.
Then "The Bottom of the Well" begins, another favorite
of mine. A steady guitar and bass come in, then it changes to more electric
sounds with a surfy reverb. The drums crash, it gets better with the horns
added (it always does), and it continues to build and build. It is a masterwork
of sound and atmosphere.
"Iron Reich" is their latest effort (which will be
followed by a new album, and I hope soon). It is a dark and bold track with
edgy music to get the lyrics over more effectively. The song's title and
lyrics, along with the tone of the vocals, make it all believable. This is
fierce music with many changes and great vocals that project the visual they
are trying to create for you. The guitar provides a lot of effects to get you
there.
Hola Ghost is anything but one-dimensional. They are as eclectic
as any band I have heard this year. They are not your typical power trio, and
you will realize that once the first track starts to play, each successive
track throws more curveballs at you. It's all good, and I am so excited that
Svart Records introduced me to them. I can't wait to see what they come up with
on their next album. The anticipation is real.
If
you want to Wrap-Around
some
of the best surf instro music on the planet, I have just the group to set
you straight. Susan Yasinski and her group, The Surftones, blaze a
trail in the sand and leave a huge wake in a sea of music with their
sizzling instrumental surf rock band.
Not
only is Yasinski an inspiration to women everywhere in music, but she
has also become a pioneer of a genre. With each successive album the
band has released, there has been growth, evolution, and maturity.
They proved that they could cover all of the classic first-wave
surf-instro hits with proficiency, and over the last few years, they
have earned their keep and gained respect as original artists. It is
a huge accomplishment in a genre with little room for experimenting
and expansion. After hearing this new album, it is more than apparent
to me that they have come full circle in their development playing
this style of music. Therefore, what could be next to overcome and
accomplish? We must find out when a studio album comes out
next time.
This
album has a vibe and feeling that has never been there before and is
very cool. Fresh, tight, crisp sounds come straight at you on tracks
like the excellent "Clash "and "Should I Stay Or
Should I Go," the impressive curtain closer "Blues Theme,"
and the reflective and powerful "Lonely Crimson Sea."
The
names of the tracks alone invoke visions of pounding surf, beautiful
sunsets, and Enrico Morricone films while the music sets the stage.
"Ghost Riders In The Sky" has enough to get up and go to
give you saddle sores from the fast and furious ride…and what a
great version of that classic tune. Think Clint Eastwood and
spaghetti westerns, and you will get the picture.
There
is enough excellent music on Wrap-Around
to create plenty of soundtracks inside your head. Good instrumental
music can do that.
