![\"theventures\"](\"http:\/\/www.eyeplug.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/theventures.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBeach Party\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n (El Records ACMEM308CD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Summer\u2019s coming, and there\u2019s only one acceptable soundtrack to it; that\u2019s Surf Music. Arguably the greatest exponents of that no-compromise style of guitar craziness, The Ventures, have had thirty four of their finest tracks assembled on CD to liven up your long drive to Newquay for the weekend. Illustrated with some cool pictures, a band members list, a source discography and discussion with the band from more recent times, it\u2019s a cut above the usual bash \u2018em out and sell \u2018em cheap compilations.<\/p>\n Providing the sounds to innumerable 60\u2019s dances proved highly successfully for this team of crack musicians, selling over 100 million records and earning them a well-deserved place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Opening with \u2018Lucille\u2019s understated beat, relaxed strut and high, twangy guitars, a good, clean sound is established early here, with a surprise key change, and a fade out so characteristic of the style. \u2018Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)\u2019 swings along, with a raucous vocal, great drum rolls and a perfectly blending lead guitar. The edgy, hesitant tones of spy film themed are riffed on, in \u2018Hernando\u2019s Hideaway\u2019, the lead guitar dragging us to a nervous ending.<\/p>\n \u2018Mashed Potato\u2019s jokey, clap along beat wins us over straight away, with pizzicato strings thrown in for good measure. The classic, and beautiful \u2018Summertime\u2019 is treated with the respect it deserves, with slow, lamenting guitars building and setting up the interplay of twang and lead, set off with subtle drum work. \u2018Hot Summer (Asian Mashed)\u2019 continues the spy film style, leading us into the classic \u2018Poison Ivy\u2019, building up strongly and with an irresistible hint of vibrato.<\/p>\n No beach dance party would be worthy of the name without \u2018The Wah-Watusi\u2019, and The Ventures\u2019 relaxed, swinging take on this classic doesn\u2019t disappoint. \u2018Instant Mashed\u2019s call and response guitars please well, with the powerful Red Indian beat supporting throughout. \u2018Scratch\u2019 builds well, goes up, and then signs off so neatly, you actually feel jealous of the damn riff.\u2019(Baby) Hully Gully\u2019 has some great twists and turns, and might well be the definitive cover of this \u2018Spudnik\u2019s neat and tidy theme, tight as a belt and with lapping water guitar, the slowing train ending shows the band could easily have been called The (Ad) Ventures. Sticking with space, \u2018Telstar\u2019 may lack the unhinged genius of Joe Meek\u2019s production, but with its ray-gun sounds and fairground organ, it\u2019s worth persisting with.<\/p>\n \u2018Calcutta\u2019s treatment reminds this listener of the fodder intended to please children on light radio shows of the period, and the band\u2019s take on the mighty \u2018Apache\u2019 is nowhere near as dramatic as The Shadows own. \u2018Green Onions\u2019 offers plenty of consolation, however, with a head full of fuzz and swaggering lead.<\/p>\n \u2018Theme From Come September\u2019 fails to excite with its uneventful climb, but \u2018Venus\u2019 makes up for this, with its romping rhythm, clear, Summer contentment and chiming guitars. \u2018The Intruder\u2019s tense, moody riff goes through tension and partial release, mixing with the listener\u2019s expectations in a little piece of surf-istication. (Sorry) \u2018Lolita Ya-Ya\u2019s double note twang and girly Wow Wow Yeh Yeh vocal lends an air of implied sleaze to an otherwise anodyne tune.<\/p>\n \u2018Driving Guitars (Ventures Twist)\u2019s aggressive bass rumble, confident lead and wild yelps are kept very tight, very neat and hit all the right buttons. \u2018Gringo\u2019s stroll, with twangy guitars providing a conversational style, sounds a little too staid to these admittedly long-punished ears, but is partly rescued by \u2018Besame Mucho\u2019s gorgeous bass, Mex Country twang and expert arpeggios. \u2018Silver City\u2019s jokey Country and Western still has a little swagger, and \u2018Blue Moon\u2019 builds well, while \u2018Perfidia\u2019 descends like a demented switchback ride, chased by the nervous guitars. \u2018Ginchy\u2019 feels like a repeat of \u2018Blue Moon\u2019 though enjoyable enough, while \u2018Home\u2019s sad, heartfelt atmosphere and confessional feel shows the band\u2019s emotional side well.<\/p>\n This compilation could not possibly omit \u2018Walk-Don\u2019t Run\u2019s ironic understatement, nor \u20182000 Pound Bee (parts 1 and 2)\u2018 dirty, fuzzy riff, that spawned many copyists. \u2018Genesis\u2019 echoing, moody lament is a departure here, its haunting riff bringing in some chilling tinkling piano to great effect, before \u2018Walk-Don\u2019t Run is reprised not once, but twice in a wash of breezy confidence.<\/p>\n
\nclassic track.<\/p>\n