L.A. Ritmo Magazine

Sept. 20, 2000

A release from the group Pollo Del Mar is anticipated with anxious excitement. They are one of the premier third wave groups of surf and have made an indeli-ble mark upon the genre in the short time that they have been together. Their first album, “The Ocean is Not For Cowards” was an impressive debut. This second release has more consistent driving energy than the first CD.

“The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea” separates Pollo Del Mar from the pack in several convincing ways. The group has developed their own unique sound– each tune is different and consistently over flows with powerful waves of energy, and, last but not least, the sound of Pollo Del Mar remains very distinctive, led by the Latin/Spanish flavored guitar style of group leader Ferenc Dobronyi. The rest of the group has plenty to say on a high musical level and they all lend a hand in the overall recording production. All the right elements are in place for a strong and tight group.

Every track is a reverb-tinged rocking gem. The only exception being the last track, “Apache ‘99” which is a slowed down version of the song– like The Ventures on downers. It's not your typical cover, but then why be predictable? It's a clever version of a normally bright number. “The Saracen Gift” is a brilliant adaptation of "Little Drummer Boy" put to a haunting and dark soundtrack.

There is an ever present changing and shifting of rhythms and beats throughout this recording, such as the spicy salsa flavored cover of Herb Alpert’s “South of the Border” –it’s a real treat for any instro fan. Tasteful and always top-notch instrumentation by one of the best surf-instro groups on the planet. Pollo Del Mar is a very innovative and talented group that deserves all the accolades and attention that any great group receives. This album is a testament to their universal appeal and their strong foothold in the surf-instro world.