Dom Mariani & The Majestic Kelp – Turn Up The Sun (2014) review
Dom Mariani & The Majestic Kelp “Turn Up The Sun” (Head Records/Spider Music, 2014)
As if
Dom Mariani hadn’t already worn enough hats between his membership in garage
heroes The Stems and pure pop favorites The Someloves, not to mention leading
the ace power pop act DM3, he has also released three fine albums of surf rock
with his act The Majestic Kelp. Turn up the Sun, the most recent of the trio
and originally issued on CD last year, arrives on vinyl now. What I especially like about the record are
the little surprises. There’s plenty of classic-sounding surf rock that nicely
conjures images of longboards, conch shells, and starfish, but there’s also
unexpected touches like some funk bass and wah-wah guitar on “Reef Beat,” the
subtle bossa nova feel of “Gin and Tonic,” and the hep jazz angle on “In the
Morning.” Most of the album is instrumental but there’s the occasional, dreamy
vocal part that meanders in and out and that you never know when to expect.
Essentially, though, this is just good surf rock, plain and simple as a bar of
sex wax and a beach cruiser rolling down the boardwalk. And for good measure
this new vinyl edition comes with a bonus cut that’s a remix of one of the main
tracks.
Dom Mariani hadn’t already worn enough hats between his membership in garage
heroes The Stems and pure pop favorites The Someloves, not to mention leading
the ace power pop act DM3, he has also released three fine albums of surf rock
with his act The Majestic Kelp. Turn up the Sun, the most recent of the trio
and originally issued on CD last year, arrives on vinyl now. What I especially like about the record are
the little surprises. There’s plenty of classic-sounding surf rock that nicely
conjures images of longboards, conch shells, and starfish, but there’s also
unexpected touches like some funk bass and wah-wah guitar on “Reef Beat,” the
subtle bossa nova feel of “Gin and Tonic,” and the hep jazz angle on “In the
Morning.” Most of the album is instrumental but there’s the occasional, dreamy
vocal part that meanders in and out and that you never know when to expect.
Essentially, though, this is just good surf rock, plain and simple as a bar of
sex wax and a beach cruiser rolling down the boardwalk. And for good measure
this new vinyl edition comes with a bonus cut that’s a remix of one of the main
tracks.
Review made by Brian Greene/2014
© Copyright http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2014
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