Los Plantronics - Surfing Times

July 27th 2015

(CD Album Review)

***

Los Plantronics, making a splash with their unique sound

I sometimes complain that a lot of music sounds the same these days, bands have a habit of seeing what the current sound is and then basically trying to do their version of it. So we basically end up with song after song on the radio that could be by, well anybody really. If 'Los Plantronics', Norway's top Mariachi band (not sure they have much competition to be honest) have ever even had the misfortune of listening to Radio 1 they were certainly not in the mood to copy what they heard.

This is one for fans of The Bronx's Mariachi band El Mariachi Bronx, so if you like them this really is a record for you. The first word that sprung to mind listening to the album, was bizarre, but is a good way wonderfully bizarre seems to perfectly sum it up. The opening track is an instrumental number 'From Mecca to Mescalito', Mescalito being a cactus with hallucinogenic properties, some of which may have been consumed prior to recording, it makes you think you are about to watch a Quebtin Tarentino movie with the sound.

Vocals are present in a few songs although only a minority like 'Mary Lou' which has a 60's sound almost trying to evoke Elvis or the Beach Boys in places and certainly referencing the surfing in the album title. In 'So you lost your Baby' it almost sounds like Elvis being a lounge singer, over the top of the Marichi rock, on paper that sounds like it shouldn't fit yet somehow it just works.

One of the highlights of the album is the brilliant cover of 'Shortnin Bread', which is a song that mixes up Surf / Garage in the right way. With the vocals on it by Slim Slammer sounding like Guy McKnight (The Eighties matchbox B-Line Disaster). This track is often labeled as a traditional song written around the 1900's by James Whitcomb Rile.

There are tracks that have more of a Rock feel like 'T is for Terror' but again with their own distinctive take on it. It is a fun album to listen to, in all honesty with the novelty value I am not sure how often it would be played normally,but great for a party, I also expect the band are a great live act if they put the energy of the record into the show. A great fun summer album for those that want something off the normal musical beaten track.