Les Agamemnonz- a love letter

I just got back from the Surf Guitar 101 Convention in Los Angeles. There were so many great and impressive bands-- Surfer Joe, The Black Flamingos, King Pelican, Urban Surf Kings, Fascinating Creatures of the Deep, The Kaisers of Kalifornia, and the tributes to Paul Johnson and The Sentinels.



But, the band that put it through the roof for me were Les Agamemnonz from France. Coming out barefoot and in togas, they've got synchronized moves, some young guys with really long hair, so they really stood out. Their music is just fantastic. I love their CDs (available from Green Cookie Records). If you haven't heard them, just check out this one song:

Some really new and fresh ideas here, but still well within the friendly confines of surf music. I don't really think of them as pushing boundaries like, say, the Mermen do. It's just that they have found so much unexplored acreage that we didn't know existed. The ingredients are the same, but the recipe is new. Too many food metaphors?

For their USA tour, Hi-Tide Recordings has released a digital single with two new songs. It's available from Bandcamp, where you can listen to the complete songs before you buy. It's the best $2 I've spent in a long time. Here's my review: 

Les Agamemnonz

Diana b/w Lacrymos

digital single on Hi-Tide Recordings

“Diana” has a very unusual structure, starting with a stately guitar line over an unstructured drum solo, slowly accelerating up to tempo. This is about as risky as anything I’ve ever heard within the confines of trad surf. As the band falls in, the guitar line permutates to become the main, and very catchy, melody. The song continues to stir and build as the production becomes fuller, augmented by acoustic guitar and keys. It’s quite a passionate and emotional experience. I guarantee you’ve never heard anything like this before, but will want to listen to it over and over. This is bold, innovative, but sounds like a lost gem from the early 60s.

The B-side, “Lachrymos” is a slow, forlorn stroll, with a familiar 50s structure. The raw guitar tones have an honesty of heartbreak. There are elements that hint at redemption, but I get the feeling that the author is looking back with regret, more than optimism. Another spacious production, with natural room and analog instrument sounds.