disco talk

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 10

disco talk

Pampered Menial. Pavlov’s Dog, SBP 474339.

This record is the most convincing album from an unknown group since Roxy Music’s uncompromising first effort.

The Dog is a seven-piece outfit from the United States playing a generous array of instruments ranging from acoustic and electric guitars to mellotron and viola.

And their playing is full of confidence and dexterity. They take risks but rise to the occasion every time, and David Surkamp handles the vocals id a similar wav.

Surkamp shows himself to be one of rock’s most exciting vocalists, and is largely responsible for the material Pavlov’s Dog plays. He wrote five of the nine tracks and collaborated with the lead guitarist, Steve Scorfina, on a sixth. His best track is undoubtedly “Of Once and Future Kings.” The production, by Murray Krugman and Sandy Pearlman, is excellent, fully catering for the group’s diverse range of instruments and Surkamp’s soaring vocals. Pyramid of Love and

Friends. El Chicano. MAPS-' 8098. El Chicano. seven | musicians from California,’

Mexican Americans. Likewise, their music is a fusion of Latin influences and white funk. Santana is the obvious comparison but on the strength of this album El Chincano have a long way to go.

This is their sixth album for MCA and of the original group only the keyboards player, Bobby Espinosa, and lead guitarist, Mickey Lespron, remain. Like most groups of this genre they have a competent rhythm section with the guitars and keyboards supplying the filler, although in this case nothing really imaginative happens. I’m not familiar with El Chicano’s previous recordings, but they would appear to be in a rut. The songs are pleasant enough, competently performed with adequate production, but they lack that little bit of inspiration which could lift them into “first division” status. There are hundreds of groups around this position, always trying but never quite succeeding. El Chjcano will have to improve on this effort if they want to make it. — Lester Todd.