Album Review: Surf Green

There is something therapeutic and refreshing in stripping something back to its bare bones. Getting to the essence of what makes something special, what makes it tick.

Surf Green is the brand-new album from the excellently monikered Auckland-based The Honeybee Rocket Scientists. So, like peeling an orange, let’s take the skin off this, smell the sweet acidity, and let the juices flow.

Stripped back, garage, retro, there are plenty of ways to describe the sonics on this album. The overall vibe, the raw sound, gives the music an edge that immediately stands out especially on the Beatles-esque opener, Get Up! but is also equally sweet on the grunge-tinged In My Car (Nowhere To Go) which is a surprising blast after the mellower opening tracks.

There is nothing fancy or trying to be clever about the tunes on here, just simple, heartfelt insights into everything from blind dates, fiery relationships, cruising in your car, and everything in between. The tempo is steady, but the energy never wavers. My mind doesn’t drift as each song sucks me in deeper.

The first standout is the touching Ride On High inspired by the unfortunate death of a young surfer.

Each track transports you to a different place, a different emotion, different vibe which is what all great music should do. Each listen throws up more treats.

The harmonies, the clear influences which lurch in all directions from Sonic Youth to the Beatles, The Pixies, The Stooges, The Monkees, Blues, Punk, Surf, there is a lot of colour in the palette being used by The Honeybee Rocket Scientists and it is all blended through a clear vision of what they think fits and gels.

Another stand out track for me is Immerse its  repetitive acoustic rhythm is hypnotic. The simple nursery rhyme style lyrics connect and resonate as I do indeed get truly immersed.

Despite or maybe because of all the different influences on display Surf Green is a collection of songs that are all quite unique in their own way but make sense when put together on an album. Each listen will take you on a different journey with plenty of twists and turns.

With Surf Green, The Honeybee Rocket Scientists have put together a collection of songs that they are clearly proud of.

This isn’t an album built to be a radio friendly unit shifter; it is music made by two people who clearly love what they are doing. You can feel it when you hear it.

Peel it back. Play it loud and let it take you wherever you want to go.