Captain Rico and the Ghost Band return with new album
04 March 2022
Newsdesk
New album Fréquences d’outre-tombe (Rhythms from beyond the grave) is to be released on March, 4th - buy here.
In their debut album “The Forgotten Memory of the Beaches”, Captain Rico and the Ghost Band take you on a journey into the world of Surf Music.
Made popular in the early 60s by groups like The Shadows, the Beach Boys, The Ventures and The Surfaris (whose song “Wipe Out” is now the soundtrack for Decathlon’s new TV and radio advertising campaign), this musical style is still very much in vogue in surfing spots worldwide.
The members of the group come from the Basque Country and have been immersed in surfing culture and the universe of the legendary Belharra wave since they were kids.
“The Forgotten Memory of the Beaches” sets this universe to music.
Around 18 months after their first album, Captain Rico and the Ghost Band are back with a sequel…
Darker, more modern and perhaps with a more complex structure than the first album, Fréquences d’outre-tombe is still in the realm of Surf Music, though the register is slightly different.
There are still some parts that are rather psychedelic, and even nostalgic as in A Long Time Ago or Last Will.
The group flirts humorously with Horror Surf in tracks like Dance of the Zombie Warrior or Dracula on a Skateboard. The tone can even darken a little and become sombre, like in Secret Weapons for example.
Not a trace of the carefree nature of their début album remains in this one, but the group is still full of powerful energy.
Tracklist : 1 - Sun Worship 2 - Lone Island 3 - The Beach of the Damned Souls 4 - Dracula on a Skateboard 5 - A Long time Ago… 6 - Dance of the Zombie Warrior 7 - Secret Weapons 8 - Darkness in the Sea 9 - Vertiginous Descent 10 - Last Will 11 - Fréquences d’Outre-Tombe
Track by Track 1- Sun Worship (3’01): the first track, a powerful rock ‘n’ roll riff to start the album. Sun Worship reflects the image on the sleeve. 2- Lone Island (3’58): the track begins with a tremolo that evokes the power and wildness of natural beauty. The more complex arpeggios in the middle of the track reflect the mysteries that may shroud a desert island. 3- The Beach of the Damned Souls (4’01): the strange guitar riff accompanied by a powerful and heady base beat suggests that perhaps talking a walk on a cursed beach isn’t the best idea in the world! 4- Dracula on a Skateboard (3’17): a track that recounts the misfortunes of the Prince of Darkness on a skateboard, alternating between "rockabilly" verses and different choruses. We all hope that the Prince of Darkness will make it on his board. 5- A Long Time Ago... (3’50): A track evocative of a joyful past – everyone has a happy memory to share. The melody awakens those feelings of nostalgia that we all give in to at times. 6- Dance of the Zombie Warrior (2’49): the track is about a zombie dance, with the high point in the middle of the track (oriental sequence). 7- Secret Weapons (4’59): perhaps a slightly militant track against the absurdity of accumulating vast arsenals of weapons in certain countries of the world. Also reminiscent of the tension that reigned during the Cold War. 8- Darkness in the Sea (4’33): the track makes us think of the tumultuous waves that surfers have to confront. Its tremolo verses are particularly dark, whereas the arpeggios in the chorus give us a glimmer of hope. 9- Vertiginous Descent (4’32): perhaps a downhill run on skis or a snowboard to make a change from surfing. Overall, the music makes us hold our breath right until the end, where a happy resolution leads us to understand that in spite of everything, it all went well. 10- Last Will (5’33): This is the longest and most complex track on the album. Despite the title that may seem sad, a certain calm and tranquillity emanates from the joyful and dreamy riffs, as if all the troubles of today had been resolved. 11- Fréquence d'outre-tombe (4’11): a funereal end to the album, a lone guitar playing… The rhythms from beyond the grave are finally expressed to finish the album.
Recorded at l’Art’Scenal Studios (Tarbes, France) Mastered at Translab (Paris) by Benjamin Savignoni Digital distribution: Believe Digital CD & LP distribution: Space Disque
