Artist:
Merrell Fankhauser
Title:
Area 51 Suite
Genre:
Space Pop
Release
Date: 4th March 2013
Label:
Gonzo Multimedia
Website:
http://www.merrellfankhauser.com
Source
Link:
It
has been several years since Merrell Fankhauser released new studio recordings
(he has released several compilations and DVDs over the years as well). Rockin
and Surfin was a 2004 release that I recall enjoying immensely so it came as no
surprise that I had a similar experience listening to the latest release Area 51
Suite. Keep in mind music fans that Fankhauser has been getting it done in the
recording studio since the 60s and has overcome health issues and every other
obstacle thrown in his way to continue to entertain us all. There are two
versions of the release available, the CD and the CD/DVD which features music
videos and interviews with people from the ET and Sci-Fi
community.
This
collection of tracks is referred to as space pop. A lot of it as one would
suspect if you are familiar with Fankhauser’s work, is influenced by surf. The
subject matter is about space and extraterrestrials but I would classify most of
this recording as instrumental with wide range of influences coming together at
once to form this hybrid of the referenced “space pop.”
The
first and title track “Area 51” effectively creates an air of mystery and
intrigue. Certainly that was the intent so mission accomplished and a great way
to open the curtain to the show. “Signals From Zoran’” which is also an
excellent track, takes a page out the surf-instrumental book. The following
track “Stardazed” is slower bluesy like ballad that puts you in a starry eyed
mood and just may have you looking up at the sky wondering who is out there
watching us. “Bimini Road” which is an underwater rock formation near North
Bimini Island in the Bahamas, is very appropriately a surf-blues number that
takes you on an underwater adventure. Instrumental music, if it is very good,
takes little time to create a picture of the track title in your mind, here
again Fankhauser succeeds.
“Shadow
People” is a very picturesque instrumental that brings those people in the
shadows to life. The music flows along and rocks its way into your psyche making
it inevitable that you start thinking about unexplained phenomena and people on
this earth that we have no knowledge of or why they are here. It one of the more
complex and changing tracks that takes things to another musical level for the
artist. Then to switch things up yet again “Cocktails In Space” is entirely
different than all the previous tracks and it includes a segment where a flute
comes in giving it new age feel and texture.
When
“Crash Landing” comes at you with a synthesizer depicting a spacecraft coming
your way and Merrell’s guitar kicks in it forms a spy thriller surf sound that
keeps you hooked throughout. This track was the one that reminded a lot of his
previous surf-instrumental work. Many of the tracks begin with a spacey laser or
craft landing like sound to make sure you are staying with the overall Area 51
Suite theme.
The
biggest treat for old and new fans will be Fankhauser’s most prolific track
“Calling From A Star.” I go back to 1999 with Merrell and that is when I first
heard this amazing track. The title says it all and his voice is exceptional,
backed by perfectly placed instrumentation. I don’t think he could have recorded
a better track in his long and influential career. Every track offers the
listener something different and even though the premise is visitors from outer
space you will hear the diversity of an artist on display at every turn. Surf,
space, pop, rock, blues, and country, just about every main genre, gets superb
coverage on this eclectic slice of musical excellence.
This
is a solid release and I have to say one of Merrell Fankhauser’s most
exceptional releases in his career. He has made some great music over the years
and this gives us all a reminder once again of his importance to the history of
rock music and how his capabilities to entertain have not waned. His candle is
still burning brightly and Area 51 Suite gives you a one way ticket to the
stars. Don’t you give up hope down there; they are coming back
again…
5/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Area 51, Calling From A Star, Crash Landing
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder MuzikReviews.com
May
11, 2013
©MuzikReviews.com
For
Questions Or Comments About This Review Send An Email To info@muzikreviews.com
Tracks:
Tracks:
1.
Area 51
2.
Signals From Zoran
3.
Stardazed
4.
Bimini Road
5.
Catalina USO
6.
Crash Landing
7.
Aliens In The Mist
8.
Shadow People
9.
Cocktails In Space
10.
Lost Continent Blues
11.
Alien Talk
12.
Calling From A Star
Disc
2
1.
Area 51
2.
Vitina Marcus: Interview
3.
Alien Talk
4.
Dr. David Jungclaus: Interview
5.
Out on the Desert
6.
The Little A'le'inn
7.
Beyond The Rainbow
8.
Calling From A Star
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck
MuzikReviews.com
Founder
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
 | Rainbow Bridge Revisited DVD/CD - £9.99 |
 | Area 51 Suite 2CD - £9.99 |
 | Tiki Lounge Vol 1 DVD/CD - £12.99 |
 | The Best Of 2CD - £11.99 |
 | The Return To Mu CD - £9.99 |
 | Tiki Lounge Vol 2 DVD/CD - £12.99 |
.jpg)
Fankhauser’s groups (The Exiles,Fapardokly, HMS Bounty and MU) and his solo career all showcased music that exemplified the particular styles they aimed for. It’s remarkable how often – and well – his music seems to capture the zeitgeist of the era in which it was recorded. The Exiles-to-Fapardokly era music centered around the Antelope Valley region, now known as the home of early music from 
Merrell tells the story of first learning the commercial value of that Fapardokly LP: It was “oh, ’78 or so when two Germans looked me up when I was living on Maui. They told me [affects a German accent], ‘Oh ya. We bought der open copy of der Fapardokly album at a record fair in Berlin for only $650!’ I said, ‘Say that again?’ That was total news to me.” Shortly thereafter, Fankhauser flew back to California and “tore apart my mom’s closet. Because I knew she had about six of ‘em.” He went on to sell one to a collector in Norway for nearly twice what the Germans had paid. “Oh, you don’t have to give me that much,” he told the collector. But the Norwegian insisted. Merrell sold all but one of those copies, and the remaining copy – still sealed – is framed and on his home studio’s wall. He believes that only 1200 copies of the original were ever pressed. Of those, about a hundred went to radio stations, and about 300 sold retail. Merrell remains “flabbergasted” at the enduring (if specialist) appeal that his music from that era has with fans around the world. Thomas Pynchon‘s 2009 novel Inherent Vice even makes mention of “Super Market.”
HMS Bounty’s “Things” did crack the Billboard Hot 100 around 1968. “We watched our songs going up the charts, and thought, ‘This is great.’ The album was selling, so we moved down to L.A., where we did big concerts opening forCTA [later Chicago],Canned Heat and The Electric Flag.” But then HMS Bounty’s label, Uni, put its promotional efforts elsewhere: “They signed Neil Diamond, who already had one little hit on the Bang label. As soon as they signed him,” Merrell recalls, “we watched the promotion pull away from us.” That spelled the end of that band. Merrell went on to do a few sessions backed by Jim Gordon, Al Casey, Carol Kaye, Larry Knechteland other highly-regarded luminaries of the sixties music scene.
Having one of his songs (the 1967 Fapardokly track “Tomorrow’s Girl”) included on Rhino’s 2009 compilation Where the Action Is! L.A. Nuggets 1965-1968 certainly helped raise Fankhauser’s profile: “I think I made seven or eight record deals since that happened,” he says. “I was thinking, ‘Well, my recording career is kind of mellowing out now; maybe I’ll just fade into the sunset.’ But all of a sudden, this happens. And I’m very thankful.”
es from Merrell Fankhauser's cable television show “Tiki Lounge” It consists of another six shows including a road trip to the Rock Creek Guitar company, and a very good cover of “All Along The Watchtower” by Fankhauser. Another episode has Fankhauser in Nevada interviewing Dr. David Jungclaus about UFOs and visiting the Little A'Le'Inn near Area 51. There’s also a interview with Mary Ramsey of 10,000 Maniacs. 
Surf rock legend Merrell Fankhauser is one hell of a guitarist and if you ever doubted that you will now think otherwise after having viewed any of his new DVD releases brought to you by Gonzo Multimedia. In these releases we see Merrell Fankhausers TV show performances of years prior along with interviews that range from over forty years ago to present time.
our numbers. Here lay a reminder of how unconventionally innovative this remarkable outfit really was. “One More Day” is a great blues inspired tune feathered with beach like lightheartedness while “The Land Of MU” dives straight into folk rock psychedelia. When going solo Merrell proves much mellower and theme focused. “On Our Way To Hana” sees him practicing hippie love, while “Make A Joyful Noise” and “Some Of Them Escaped It All” are again both folk tinged gemstones.