Hello, Spirit of Cecilia music fans! In this post, Brad Birzer and Tad Wert discuss the recently released eponymously titled album by Lords of Atlantis.

Tad: Okay, Brad, you were the one who suggested we tackle this album, and I confess I was unfamiliar with it. When I first cranked it up, I thought it was a soundtrack to an Hawaii 5-O episode! It’s an interesting mix of surf music and prog, all instrumental. According to the House of Tabu website, it is a supergroup of sorts from the surf genre, bringing together guitarist Ivan Pongracic and drummer Dane Carter of The Madeira, guitarist Jeremy DeHart of The Manakooras and Aqualads, and bassist Jonpaul Balak of Surfer Joe and the Tikiyaki multiverse.

Tell me why you are so enthusiastic about these guys!

Brad: Dear Tad, I love doing these with you.  Thank you, my friend.  I’m sorry to be a bit late in responding.  We started college classes on Wednesday, I had a wedding on Friday afternoon, and, my oldest son, Nathaniel, returned for a year in Jerusalem today.  So, lots and lots of chaos in the Birzer household!

Tad, I will freely admit, I’m not in the least objective when it comes to the Lords of Atlantis.  I’ve had the privilege of meeting (briefly) Dane Carter, the drummer, and he’s a great guy.  But, my real bias is with Ivan Pongracic.  He’s not only one of my favorite colleagues at Hillsdale (he teaches economics), but he’s also one of my closest friends.  So, when I hear Ivan’s guitar’s beautiful Hawaii 5-0 style guitar, I think gentleman, friend, economist, friend, colleague, friend, fellow beer drinker, friend, and fellow cat lover!

I’m a huge fan of The Madeira (I even own a t-shirt!), and I’m an even bigger fan of Lords of Atlantis.  Ivan has been shaped by The Shadows, by The Beatles, by Pink Floyd, etc.  The guy is not only brilliant, he’s also the epitome of an artist when it comes to surf and prog.  He reeks of integrity.

I told him recently that I have a hard time reviewing his music, only because it’s instrumental.  When you and I review, I focus so heavily on lyrics, Tad.  As Ivan told me (and I believe him), instrumental just means “imagist.”  That is, each song is a color, each song is a chapter, and each song is a story.  I love that.

Tad: Brad, that is fascinating, and it explains why you are an evangelist for the Lords. Now that I understand that context, let me say that the first time I listened to their album, it was the guitar work that most impressed me. I can definitely hear shades of David Gilmour, especially on the song, Seaglass. As a matter of fact, I think that is my favorite track of the album. It’s a beautiful song with a wonderful melody. Barbary Corsairs is another winner, reminiscent of early Merseybeat music. Atlas is a roaring rocker that I like a lot as well. Throughout the entire album, Pongracic is a master of the lean and economical guitar phrase (sorry, I couldn’t resist!).

Also, let me mention how much I like the cover art. It has a fun retro feel to it, with its “In Stereo” flag at the top, and the 33 1/3 rpm at the bottom. Very cool!

Brad: Thanks, Tad, for indulging my passions and my friendships!  I agree with you completely about the Lords of Atlantis and the David Gilmour feel.  But, then, of course, there’s a HUGE Dick Dale feel and influence as well.  So. . . Gilmour, Dale, Pongracic.  Amazing trio!  Two things I’d like to add to this conversation.  First, like Pongracic himself, his guitar playing (and the playing of the entire band) is simply tasteful.  Taste just exudes from this music.  

Second, each song really is a kind of tone poem, awaiting our own visual interpretations.  When, for example, I hear “Barbary Corsairs,” I can’t help but imagine the corsairs floating illegally and unlawfully through the Mediterranean, wreaking havoc upon the civilized world.  Yet, again, there’s something so tasteful about the song, that I also can’t help but imagine Thomas Jefferson defending American sovereignty in the area and sending in the Marines to attack North African slave fortresses!  Or, when I hear “Libertas!” I can’t help but imagine the American patriots defending common law and Natural Rights against the oppressions of King George.  And again, when I hear “Chariots of the Gods,” I can’t help but imagine the various pantheons of the ancient world, all mixed and warring with one another.  Zeus, Venus, Jupiter, Aphrodite!  Which pantheon wins?

Tad: Brad, I agree that the music evokes wonderful visuals – “Eye of the Sahara” made me think of a camel caravan traveling across a dune in the desert.

Well, I think we can agree that this album is a real treat for fans of upbeat instrumental rock. They supply the tunes, the listener supplies the pictures!