Dave Burke

Another edition of Pipeline, another great band. What can I tell ya? A San Franciscan four-piece operating mainly in the surfzone, who display a deft control and poise right from the opening "Annabelle Lee" and continue with enough touches of imagination and flair to prove that, even now, creative musicians can still bring fresh life to the three guitars and drums format.

Resisting the youthful temptation to tear through everything, the band instead opt for thoughtful arrangements and a strong sense of dynamics to state their case. Listen for example to "Johnny Foo" with its burning twin guitar climax, or "Devil's Slide" with its intricate percussion work, wailing siren lead and driving rhythm, or the bullying bass line of "Cutlass Supreme" for ideas in action.

Not that everything is successful. "The Saracen Gift" (better known to you and I as "The Little Drummer Boy") is atmospheric but does mostly tend to drag its heels despite a sudden outburst ending, likewise "Apache' 99" is taken too slow for its own good. Those pale though when compared to all of the good things here. For instance trumpet player Jab adds a refreshingly different counterpoint to both "Consuela's Revenge" and oldie "South Of The Border", and the little "Baby Please Don't Go" pinches in the fiery "Rt. 666" are a delight! Best of the lot though is "Annabelle Lee" with its powerful surf backbone but tender lead line dressed up in softly stroked minor chords, gradually building to an explosive finale between guitar and drums.

Great stuff!