Reverend Organdrum • Hi-Fi Stereo

Review by Mark Deming

In the liner notes to this album, Jim Heath (better known as Reverend Horton Heat) says that he began jamming with Hammond organ man Tim Alexander and drummer Todd Soesbe because he was "looking for some new ways to improve my guitar playing." Anyone who has heard Heath tear up fretboards as the world's leading psychobilly guitarist might wonder just how much improvement the man really needed, but there's no arguing that Hi-Fi Stereo, credited to his new side combo Rev. Organdrum, gives Heath a chance to stretch out in some new and interesting directions. With Hi-Fi Stereo, Heath puts his hot-wired roots rock on the back burner in favor of some cooler retro sounds in a set that runs the gamut from vintage movie themes ("A Shot in the Dark," "Hang 'Em High," "James Bond Theme") and classic blues workouts ("Night Train," "I Got a Woman") to swinging jazz (Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues," Roland Kirk's "Black and Crazy Blues"), and '60s soul ("Groovin'," "Time Is Tight"). Heath's guitar work is considerably more muted than usual in this context, but he still shows off plenty of very impressive picking as he digs deep into some moody and melodic tunes, and with Alexander on keys he's not the sole star of the show for a change, and the interplay between the two manages to sound playful and intuitive while they push one another in the right directions. Drummer Soesbe doesn't get as much time in the spotlight, but his accompaniment is solid and he pushes the music forward with grace and strength. The best Reverend Horton Heat records are generally the most frantic, and Rev. Organdrum represents a big step in the opposite direction, but Hi-Fi Stereo shows Jim Heath can dial down the volume and still come up with fun, compelling music, and with any luck, this happening trio will head back to the studio some time soon.

https://www.allmusic.com/album/hi-fi-stereo-mw0000505568

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Reseña de Mark Deming

En las notas de este álbum, Jim Heath (más conocido como Reverendo Horton Heat) dice que empezó a tocar con el organista de Hammond Tim Alexander y el baterista Todd Soesbe porque estaba "buscando nuevas formas de mejorar mi forma de tocar la guitarra". Cualquiera que haya oído a Heath destrozar los diapasones como el guitarrista psicópata más importante del mundo se preguntará cuánto necesitaba mejorar, pero no se puede discutir que el Hi-Fi Stereo, acreditado a su nuevo combo lateral Rev. Organdrum, le da a Heath la oportunidad de extenderse en algunas nuevas e interesantes direcciones. Con Hi-Fi Stereo, Heath deja de lado su rock de raíz en favor de algunos sonidos retro más frescos en un set que abarca desde temas de películas antiguas ("A Shot in the Dark", "Hang 'Em High", " "Tema de James Bond") y entrenamientos clásicos de blues ("Night Train", "I Got a Woman") hasta el jazz swinging ("C Jam Blues" de Duke Ellington, "Black and Crazy Blues" de Roland Kirk), y el soul de los 60 ("Groovin'", "Time Is Tight"). El trabajo de Heath con la guitarra es considerablemente más apagado de lo habitual en este contexto, pero todavía muestra un montón de púas muy impresionantes mientras profundiza en algunas melodías malhumoradas y melódicas, y con Alexander en las teclas no es la única estrella del espectáculo para variar, y la interacción entre los dos se las arregla para sonar juguetona e intuitiva mientras se empujan mutuamente en las direcciones correctas. El baterista Soesbe no pasa tanto tiempo en el centro de atención, pero su acompañamiento es sólido y empuja la música hacia adelante con gracia y fuerza. Los mejores discos del Reverendo Horton Heat son generalmente los más frenéticos, y el Rev. Organdrum representa un gran paso en la dirección opuesta, pero los shows de Hi-Fi Stereo Jim Heath pueden bajar el volumen y aún así producir música divertida y convincente, y con un poco de suerte, este trío que está sucediendo regresará al estudio en algún momento.

https://www.allmusic.com/album/hi-fi-stereo-mw0000505568

Tracklist
1 Moovin' And Groovin'
2 Strollin' With Bones
3 A Shot In The Dark
4 Night Train
5 Honky Tonk (Side A & B)
6 James Bond Theme
7 Bim Bam Baby
8 Can't Be Still
9 Experiment In Terror
10 Mardis Gras Mambo
11 Theme To Route 66
12 Hang 'Em High
13 Black And Crazy Blues
14 Ain't That A Kick In The Head
15 C Jam Blues
16 I Got A Woman
17 Groovin'
18 Time Is Tight

Drums – Todd Soesbe
Guitar, Vocals – Jim Heath
Organ [Hammond] – Tim Alexander

Engineer [Assistant] – Matt Kennedy
Recorded By, Mixed By – Paul Osborne
Recorded At – Audio Dallas
Mixed At – Audio Dallas

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