Phil Dirt - Reverb Central
PO Box 7240, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-7240 USA
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 The
Diamondheads S/T 
Label: Diamond Heads CD-R Demo
This CD-R contains three rough mixes for an album in progress, and
ten performances recorded live 6/14/01. With a such a strong surf sound
and excellent playing, the Diamondheads need to get moving with
this album. Covers are few and in most cases rearranged significantly
enough to give them a fresh face. Look for a fine release one day soon.
Picks: Faithful To The Surf, Hammerhead, Waving, Surf West,
Young Man [live], Diamond Head [live], English Channel Surfing [live],
Home Alone [live], Midnight [live], Cry For A Shadow [live], Bonehead
[live], Steel Trap [live], Calhoun Surf [live], Ruff Ryder [live]
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"Faithful To The Surf"
"O Come All Ye Faithful" becomes a warm surf romp at
the hands of the Diamondheads. Very reverent, and very surf, employing a
fresh arrangement and inviting sound.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Hammerhead"
"Hammerhead" features a catchy riff and rhythm, with
driving drums and pure surf bass. While it's riff based, it's very pleasing and
infectious. A little like a lost Pyramids tune, with guts and whammy.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Waving"
Soft and slow, this liquid evening groove uses soft slow whammy chords and
reverb to lull the night into providing a romantic backdrop. Very pretty and
islandic.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Surf West, Young Man [live]"
This spaghetti western is twangy and cool, with big whammy. Its melody line
is related to "Secret Agent Man," like might have
happened if Enio Morricone had written that TV spy theme.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Diamond Head [live]" 
So, how could you not expect the Diamondheads to cover the Ventures'
"Diamond Head?" Tight and reverby, and with bigger
whammy than the V-boys employed.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"English Channel Surfing [live]"
The "Walk Don't Run" drum intro leads to a
refreshingly cool melody with big twang and whammy, and a warm inviting sound. A
fine track.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Home Alone [live]"
Grumbly and ominous, "Home Alone" twangs with an
almost spaghetti spy feel. Quite a nice melody.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Midnight [live]"
This is a splendid cover of the Shadows' "Midnight,"
played in an almost Sleep Walk arrangement, with reverbed and echoed guitar.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Cry For A Shadow [live]"
The Diamondheads do nice things to "Cry For A Shadow,"
giving it surf credentials without undoing the Hamburg ambiance. Aside from Los
Straitjackets, Susan and the Surftones, and the Ventures, no
one seems to cover the only Beatles instro.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Bonehead [live]"
"Bonehead" sports a fine damped bridge, a sparkling
melody line, some strong guitar work, and a solid beat. Mid tempo, sporting rich
intense whammy, and dedicated to the proposition that a liquid melody is the
essence of surf music. A bit ominous, yet quite inviting.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Steel Trap [live]"
Link Wray's "Steel Trap" twanged and reverbed
into dangerous surf. A solid cover.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Calhoun Surf [live]"
The Overtones' "Calhoun Surf" gets the liquid
reverb treatment, within an otherwise very reverent arrangement. Some guitar
morphology evolves the melody into something more mysterious. Very smooth!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Ruff Ryder [live]"
Cowboy twang and a cactus beat, whammified into a ride along the fence line.
Surf Instrumental Stereo