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Los Kahunas: "Otro Reverberante Encuentro con..."
2007 Oleoducto discos / No Fun records
The newest release from Argentina's Los Kahunas has arrived just in time for the New Year. "Otro Reverberante Encuentro con: Los Kahunas" (according to my girlfriend: "another reverberated encounter with...") shows great variety, while still retaining the Kahuna's signature sounds. Big Papu's Jazzmaster can be heard on guitarra lida (lead guitar), Antonio Carlos plays his chiming Danelectro guitarra ritmica (rhythm guitar), Alexis B. keeps the beat on his Slingerland kit and new addition Damian Baldi walks the bottom end on his Danelectro bajo (bass). Additional musical guests help round things out on contrabajo, solo de guitarra, organo and guitarra acustica.
The disc begins with the rambunctious 6G15: yes, finally, a surf tune dedicated to Leo Fender's legendary stand-alone reverberation circuit design designation number. 6G15 has a unique and memorably discordant melody line (you'll know the note I'm talking about when you hear it!) followed by some killer DickDale-ness and ultimately ends with a crashing kick straight to the unit! Excellent drums by Alexis B. throughout this tune.
California Kustom is an upbeat number done Kahunas style. I can see old time dry lake racers with their white-walled baby-mooned chopped-top bucket-t's ramblin' through my nostalgic Kodak 8mm mind with this one.
Deeper than the Sea is a romantic dreamy number, the slow dance at the Junior High dance circa 1963. Tremolo leads and excellent guitarra ritmica chord action makes this progression sweet and all-to-short.
The Kahunas turn up the dwell knob on Lee Hazelwood's The Hearse. Be sure to dig the bite and growl of Big Papu's mean-ass sounding Jazzmaster on this one.
"Otro Reverberante..." is dedicated to Atila Carlos Bakos, and his name appears in the title of the next cut: Bakos, El Terrible. This tune is a distinctive tribute, and has, perhaps, some of the most original songwriting, playing and arrangemment found on this disc. The high-energy of this cut leaves me wanting more.
Feddy King's Heads Up is next. A real classic blues-a-go-go sort of number. Sounds like something you'd hear at Sunset Boulevard's Whiskey circa 1965. Mean Telecaster-style blues-fuzz lead by Gustavo Napoli.
Paul Johnson's Lanky Bones is featured next. Super-tight rhythm work throughout this rendition, especially on the rhythm guitar.
The ominous and mysterious Ocean Boulevard will carry you away to another time and another place. Damian Baldi's heavy bassline works to beautifully counterpoint Big Papu's dreamy melody line. This melancholic number seems to be my favorite on the disc: quite expressive. The contrabajo line by Sr. Flavio adds even more texture and emotion...
The Kahunas follow with an admirable rendition of the discoteque standard: The Shadows The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bundt. This straight-forward rendition should delight the purists, while providing a fresh take on the Shadows for newbies.
Candy Smile is an upbeat number reminiscent of Del Shannon's classic Runaway.
Daredevil tears into the dark world of gothic-hot-rod music. Motors rumble, tires squeal while Herman Munster throws the Munstermobile into high gear for a ghoulish drag down Main Street. Watch out!
Do you want to know what heavy is? Give a listen to the Kahunas' version of the Ventures The Creeper. Man, I think my speakers were shredded by all the fabulous fuzztone emanating from this cut. Heavy!
Verdemar is the radio-friendly featured cut on this album. Classically crafted for AM radio airplay, I wouldn't be surprised to hear this one on the next sunny California commercial for that new 2008 convertible hybrid. Everything a great tune needs is in this one, and then some...
"Otro Reverberante..." ends with an all-acoustic number: Wave of Love. Did Dick Dale write this tune? Nope, but it's easily comparable to DD's recent acoustic work...heavy breathing is included in the mix free of charge. Are you sure Dick didn't write this one? Awww, I'm just foolin'...it's a lovely tune...
Well, that's it. If you'd like to hear what Los Kahunas are up to lately, be sure to pick up this fine album. It covers a lot of ground, but it does so admirably.
I'm off to listen to Ocean Boulevard, again.
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Thanks dp! I really look forward to hearing this. I liked their first CD but felt it lacked good production and thus kind of took away the power on their faster songs. I'm hoping this one is produced better. I will definitely check this out.
Hey Brian,
If there is one top reason for why we released this record it is in fact the outstanding production work and the band's much more complex and refined composition work.
Highly recommended! No, really!!!
If you decide to go for it, the easiest way is to email orders@nofunrecords.com
Alternatively, you could fill out this form:
http://www.nofunrecords.com/english%20eform.htm
Or, if you are an eBay addict, you could simply visit the store @:
http://cgi.ebay.com/LOS-KAHUNAS-OTRO-REVERBERANTE-ENCUENTRO-CD-NEW-SURF_W0QQitemZ130188037477QQihZ003QQcategoryZ307QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118
ENJOY!
I recently got this from the good folks at No Fun Records and have given it a couple listens. Very cool.
I love the recording. Clean without being sterile. You get all the subtleties of the cool guitar tonesââ¬âof which, there's no shortage hereââ¬âand there's plenty of space for the reverb to blossom.
Solid performances all around, too. Nice range of material.
I agree, dp, Ocean Boulevard is one of the standout tracks.