Effigies In Cork by VRIL

17 Jan

Written by Mark Keresman
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There may be no surf in Cleveland, but in Pyrenees, France, the waves must be surreal, if this platter is any indication. VRIL are a trio whose membership crosses many international datelines, united in their search for the Perfect Wave. However, their conception of "perfect" is a tad different from the Ventures’ or Dick Dale’s. While VRIL - whose members are better known for their works in the free-improv and avant/art/progressive rock zones - utilize the basic vocabulary of surf music, what they do with it is both respectful and downright subversive, a la Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Carla Bley and Bill Frisell. They take the glistening guitar-driven linear, tubular forward motion of the surf sound and turn it on its side and contort it more than a little - it’s as if LSD was an ingredient in the suntan lotion, or imagine the soundtrack to a fun-in-the-sun beach movie directed by David Lynch or a from-Beyond Alfred Hitchcock. Fun.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: VRIL
CD Title: Effigies In Cork
Genre: Fusion
Year Released: 2004
Record Label: ReR USA
Tracks: Supersonic Canteen; Inexplicable Jar; Spangled Farmyard; Wrinkled Lantern; Crumpled Armada; 11 others.
Musicians: VRIL: Lukas Simonis: guitar, mandolin; Bob Drake: bass, guitar; Chris Cutler: drums.
Label Website: http://www.rerusa.com
Rating: Three Stars