Customer Reviews

Under the Sun

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This is a Ubiquity record, a soundtrack, to surfing documentary/film 'Under The Sun'

and it came out late 2008. The soundtrack has nearly 40 songs on it, mostly

from Ubiquity artist Shawn Lee and also some Australian bands, the Band Of Frequencies,

Low Pressure Sound System and Afro Dizzi Act.

Shawn Lee's tracks are short and punchy and definitely upbeat with a surf flavour,

Shawn Lee (London based) has plenty of albums through Ubiquity (US label) and

most of them are really good. 'Afro Surf' is track two and almost feels like you are

in Indonesia listening to a funk band. 'Capricorn' has that street edge, up-tempo

guitar licks and a solid blues based groove. 'Hollisday' sounds like a surf inspired

track, but not in a Beach Boys or Dick Dale way, more like piano, organ, harmonica

and no vocals, ethereal, the track '1994' has a similar flavour, lovely percussion.

'Murf the Surf' is pretty funky, as is 'Rabbits revenge' with the walking bass. '

Erotic Drums' is again street urban, modern but not in an electronic way,

'Nice Dream' can be that though. 'Rabbit' is funk.

The Australian bands have their own disc in this two disc package,

and there is some really nice stuff in there too, mostly instrumental,

but not just 'surf music'. There are a couple of tracks from the

Band Of Frequencies which are verging on rock, but in a good way,

rock with some soul, tracks like 'Dylans Wings' and 'Sol Train.'

Afro Dizzi Act track 'the drop off' was one of my favorites, with

lovely guitar tones an instrumental at 10:10 starts slow and builds

into a beautiful guitar pattern with nice Rhodes piano and drumming

that breaks down into like a dub session. 'Deep Dish' by the

Band Of Frequencies has a nice double bass groove and trumpet lines

that give it that jazz sort of edge, but more like a remixed jazz edge

than a Miles Davis jazz edge. The track 'Storm Front' builds to a

wonderful crescendo by drummer Terepai Richmond,

All over, very happy with this soundtrack. An eclectic array

of sounds that made me want to look further into the music

of these bands. I really enjoyed this album and think people

into Shawn Lee and instrumental music with like a funk

fusion edge should check it out.