Song of the Day-Sahara Surfers-"Traces"

"Traces" is taken off of the compelling third full-length release "High Lands" from Sahara Surfers. This explosive song features the ever beautiful and relaxed vocal of Julia Überbacher surrounded by a whirlwind of frenetic drumming and desert rock groove.  If you have not heard this band yet, there is no better time than now as they are offering this new album for a "name your price" on Bandcamp. For more information, please check out the following links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Album Review - Sahara Surfers: Sonar Pilot

One of my favorite albums from 2010 was Sahara Surfers’ debut LP, Spacetrip on a Paper Plane. In my review for that record, which you can read for yourself here, I compared the Austrian band to a stoner rock version of Silversun Pickups due to their careful blending of heavy riffs and subtle sonic textures all layered together with vocalist Julia Überbacher’s sexy baritone. The dynamic was in fact so unique and intricate that to this day that album still maintains a place in my music listening rotation. So when the band released their latest album Sonar Pilot towards the end of last year, you can rest assured I was more than ready to re-shuffle my best of 2011 to make room for it right at the top. Why didn't it end up on my list? Read on.

The album begins strong and full of promise, as a fine crescendo of guitar and bass from Andreas Knapp and Hans-Peter Ganner respectively, combines with Michael Stengress’ drums to become a monstrous riff-filled instrumental. Being that the track is one of the better songs on the album and that it clocks in at almost four minutes in length, it almost seems like Sahara Surfers sold it short by simply labeling it as “Intro”. That said, it does flow right into “Underline”, a song which features a pummeling groove and the first taste of Julia’s vocals as she opens with this gem…“city in wait for fire, unless the waves keep moving.” The song is reminiscent of the remarkable ability the band showcased on their debut, to ebb and flow from the heavier bits to the subtle ones with graceful ease.

Of course you wouldn't expect anything graceful about a song called “Mass Crashing” and you’d be correct. The song opens with another juggernaut riff and plows straight ahead through multiple, monstrous grooves, a neck snapping breakdown and a really cool stop/start where Sahara Surfers just seem to be toying with us. “Fold Over” continues to showcase the band’s knack for groove, but shifts gears into a slower, funkier tempo as Überbacher croons over offbeat guitar and bass lines. This goes on for over half of the song’s runtime before the rest of the band unleashes the full power of their signature, fuzzed out heaviness, which is made all the more impressive due to that calculated buildup.

The title track from Sonar Pilot is its centerpiece as well as one if it’s better songs. Listen as Stengress shotguns his snare, Ganner’s bass rolls in, followed closely by Knapp’s guitar and then Julia’s vocals wander dreamily over the top of it all. Then just as Sahara Surfers collectively merge their instrumentation, they unleash another tidal wave of sonic energy. And when Überbacher sings “indulged in my favorite…flight of fancy”, you get the impression this is a woman poetically acknowledging her love for her craft.

“Ganjalf” (is that some sort of stoner Lord of the Rings reference?) finds the band gathering momentum as it opens with what is almost certainly the album's heaviest moment. But Sahara Surfers continue to showcase their mesmerizing ability to layer their songs with multiple acoustic landscapes as they easily transition into the song's playful bridge. This back and forth from heavy to whimsical and back again continues throughout the song until the gloves finally come off and the band buries you with a colossal breakdown…if you weren’t sold on Sahara Surfers to this point, you will be now.

“Aenor” opens with more funky fuzz over which Julia quips "behind the sun my skin burns…but all the rest still shivers." And the band continues this soulful jam for a good two minutes before they slug you with another sledgehammer riff and the chorus beckons "is the price too low, is the gift too high?" "Miles" keeps the funky groove alive, only now Sahara Surfers seem perfectly content to keep the rhythm smooth and low key, riding their wave of chill all the way to the song's ending. But it's the final track on Sonar Pilot where the band really reminds me of their stunning layers of sound that I fell in love with back in 2010. "The Gentleman Aside" blends bright guitars with jazzy drums and of course those glorious vocals. Try and sit still when Überbacher warns "if I would be a force of mother nature, I would bring the whole shit down" and the band lets loose one last time as if to remind us all that they can unleash the heavy whenever they feel like it.

Listen, as I said before, I was all set to shuffle things around and throw this album way up at the top of my "best of 2011" list. So what happened you ask…why didn't I do it? Well unlike Sahara Surfers' debut album, which was love at first listen for me, Sonar Pilot took time and multiple listens for me to truly appreciate it. This album is a classic "grower" in the sense that the more time you put in, the more enjoyment you're going to get out. This is a band that incorporates layer upon layer of instrumentation to achieve their signature sound. They don't beat you over the head with their heaviness, but instead come at you much more subtly and then overwhelm you with it when you least expect it. And it's these juxtapositions that add so much depth to Sahara Surfers, making them a one of kind listen. So forgive me for not originally including Sonar Pilot on my "best of" list. The fact is, this is no sophomore slump. Sahara Surfers are back and I recommend you check this album out…just be sure not to pass judgement after the first impression.

Track Listing:

01 Intro
02 Underline
03 Mass Crashing
04 Fold Over
05 Sonar Pilot
06 Ganjalf
07 Aenor
08 Miles
09 The Gentleman Aside

Band Members:
Julia Überbacher – Vocals
Andreas Knapp – Guitar
Hans-Peter Ganner – Bass
Michael Steingress - Drums

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Album Review - Sahara Surfers: Spacetrip on a Paper Plane

When I think of Austria, the images that come to mind are the vast and scenic expanse of the Alps, those funny pants known as lederhosen, Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music" and of course the governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. I do not however, think of stoner rock...that is until now. That's right folks, there's something heavy emerging from the valley town of Innsbruck, Austria and its name is Sahara Surfers.

Now I have no idea how or why the band decided on their moniker, but upon hearing their debut album Spacetrip on a Paper Plane, the name starts to make more sense. You see, Sahara Surfers display a strong desert/fuzz rock influence in the vein of Southern California bands like Kyuss and Fu Manchu. So it seems strangely appropriate to take the name of the world's largest desert...the Sahara, combine it with one of Southern California's most popular "stoner" activities...surfing, and voilà, Sahara Surfers! At least that’s my theory.

But band names aside, these guys (and gal) have concocted a lean, mean album completely void of filler. With only six tracks, they waste no time getting down to business with album opener “Colour Jam”. The song features that wonderfully fuzzy Kyuss-like sound courtesy of Andi Knapp’s guitar work and due in no small part to the heavy low end created by Hans-Peter Ganner on bass and Michael Steingress on drums. In fact, the crash of Steingress’s cymbals on this song are absolutely deafening (Brant Bjork anyone?), and lend to the power and beauty of the overall experience. Track two, “Propeller” picks up right where the first one lets off, and features possibly the heaviest breakdown on the entire album.

But it’s the striking, haunting, almost masculine vocals of Julia Überbacher that helps Sahara Surfers stand out from their peers. When she sings “we’re fading away” on the album’s third track “Age”, you can feel the sorrow and sense of loss in her voice. With Julia’s underlying vocals playing the part of a fourth instrument, the band creates a delicate blend of heavy stoner riffage and pure emotion that has a decidedly indie rock feel to it. If Silversun Pickups decided to make a stoner rock record, this is what it might sound like.

The contrast is even more evident on “812” where a very Tool-like bass line is transformed into a pummeling groove that shifts Spacetrip on a Paper Plane into overdrive. This is the album’s signature track in my mind, as it perfectly defines what Sahara Surfers are all about. And on the following song, “Sister in Shade” the band resurrects the sound of yet another classic, yet sadly underappreciated alt-rock outfit known as Sugartooth (look ‘em up!). The album concludes with an epic number called “Gas” that finds Knapp laying down chill inducing guitar work while Julia rails against the war for oil...”like this your empire grows, let the bodies roll”. This song ends at the six minute mark and a cool little bluesy number shows up a few seconds later as a hidden track and ultimately brings the album to a close.

Spacetrip on a Paper Plane is a fantastic debut by a band that I will most certainly be keeping my eye on in the future. Put it on at your next party and watch as both your metalhead friends and your hipster buddies both come up and ask you what you’re playing. This is flat out good music…highly recommended.

Track Listing:

01. Colour Jam
02. Propeller
03. Age
04. 812
05. Sister in Shade
06. Gas

Band Members:

Julia Überbacher – Vocals
Andi Knapp – Guitar
Hans-Peter Ganner – Bass
Michael Steingress - Drums

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