A couple of the best surf instrumental releases of 2004 came late in the year, from two bands that are as different in style and sound as they are geographically: San Francisco's Pollo Del Mar and Finland's Charades.
The Golen State (MuSick 23) is PDM's third studio release and certainly their best. Appropriately described as being a "progressive psychedelic instrumental" band, their latest CD moves a bit away from the beach sonically, though not in spirit. There's still plenty of drippy reverb here and much creativity at play, from the opening track's use of guitar feedback to create the impression of talking whales, to the closing number, an instrumental version of The Clash's "Charlie Don't Surf." The record also includes a video of the band performing one of the CD's tracks, "UBIK." While not traditional surf, The Golden State was still one of the best releases of 2004 in the genre.