As ever, Gary Usher/Dick Burns´ Midnight Run shines brightly and The Penetrators give it plenty of polish with their fine delivery. Damped reverb picking sets the stage for a moody lead on the atmospheric slowie Deception Bay. It´s a tasty and effective diversion form all the activity around it, this is one to set beside The Surfraiders´ great Point Conception ´63. Another Time, Another Place shifts the action up a couple of gears to a catchy mid-tempo beat, with more of that damped picking in the background and a ringing lead. Codename: Gypsy moves into top gear but doesn´t miss out on the melody front either, this has the feel of an Exodus-inspired theme and that´s OK by me. Speed Bump is a traditional surf stomp and I´m also partial to the occasional dose of single malt, which is celebrated here with a Celtic flourish.
Triple-Dog Dare features the duetting and duelling guitars of Rip Thrillby and Spanky Twangler before the second cover, an excellent version of The Ventures´ Mariner 4 in full space flight - love those chords! The title track is deep and dirty, a slow and menacing spy theme of great stature that builds nicely at the end. The album closes with a romp through the Southern Surf Syndicate Theme which is a trademark melodic fast surfer. A fitting conclusion to this balanced and highly enjoyable set.
(Alan Taylor)
Tracklisting:
1. Checkpoint Echo
2. 50 Bucks A Midget
3. Redlined
4. Midnight Run
5. Deception Bay
6. Another Time, Another Place
7. Codename: Gypsy
8. Speed Bump
9. Single-Malt Stomp
10. Triple-Dog Dare
11. Mariner 4
12. Locked & Loaded
13. Southern Surf Syndicate Theme