David Walsh - 62 Special
Australian surf-rock guitarist David Walsh just released a doozy of a surf-rock album, called 62 Special.
David Walsh
If you remember the good old days of surf-rock, when The Ventures and Dick Dale churned out the real thing, then you’ll love this album. It’s all original instrumental pieces, with one exception: Walsh’s interpretation of “Pipeline,” by the Chantays.
The album features David Walsh on guitars, along with his son, Benjamin Walsh on drums, bass, and flute. Mixed and mastered at Groovelands, the music was pushed through “a Neve pre-amp and summed using a vintage Teac 3 console in the true spirit of ‘60’s surf-rock sound.”
Sadly, I couldn’t find out anything about David Walsh, but Benjamin is quite the percussionist, beginning his professional career at the age of 19, with a punk percussion trio called Pablo Percusso, which amalgamated music with theater and toured Australia and the world. He also played with Vicious Hairy Mary, and the electronic live fusion band The Bird, as well as The Tom Tom Crew, and The Crusty Suitcase Band.
His most recent project was Remix Experiment, releasing two albums via Hydrofunk Records.
'62 Special' is like a wonderful time machine, taking listeners back to the heady days of SoCal beaches, blondes, and catching a big wave.
Embracing seven-tracks, 62 Special begins with “The Return of Shenzo,” opening on an exotic guitar flowing into a suave surf-rock melody full of deep supple tones and finessed drumming. The track conjures up memories of The Ventures, only rawer. This is my favorite track on the album because of its smooth glossy harmonic flow.
Highlights include: “The Lonely Surfer,” which rolls on trembling Beach Boys-esque tones, tender and rife with soft summer romantic hues. “6060” ramps thing up, delivering rumbling drums and lively beach jamming energy, akin to Fabian’s Ride The Wild Surf, where everyone is dancing on the beach around a fire, prior to the next day’s surfing competition.
“Texas Pipeline” features a visceral glittering guitar chock-full of reverb atop crunching drums and a laid-back bassline.
62 Special is like a wonderful time machine, taking listeners back to the heady days of SoCal beaches, blondes, and catching a big wave.
