Trabants are an instrumental surf-garage-psych project hailing from Portland, Oregan. Without vocals to draw attention, the instrumentation on their music is exquisite and mesmerising. We’re thrilled today to be premiering “Surfer On Acid”, a fuzzy guitar-driven rolling ball of psychedelia ahead of its release on Thursday, 30th May.
The band is hosted by composer and guitarist Eric Penna, and has a rotating line-up of like-minded musicians over the years. It was named after the ubiquitous car that was produced in East Germany from the late 50s until 1991.
Trabants are known for their use of vintage recording equipment and techniques. “Surfer On Acid” is a a memerising pastiche of classic surf and psych rock that will leave you wanting much much more. The guitars are hypnotic and intoxicating, weaving and punching, with percussion that drives it along and adds colour. Listening to this, I had flash backs of watching “Hawaii Five-0” as a kid. It would have been a perfect sound track. Lovers of Australian surf-rock instrumental outfit The Break would find much to love here.
“Surfers on Acic” was written, recorded and mixed by Eric Penna at Hemstreet Sound in Portland. It was mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East. It will be released as part of a two-track 7-inch, 45-rpm vinyl containing the songs “Mantra”, as well as “Surfers On Acid”.
Portland natives can catch Trabants on the 6th July at Turn Turn Turn for their Trabants‘ 7-Inch vinyl album release show. They will also be playing in Los Angeles at Huntington Beach Pier on the 13th of October.
You can pre-save “Surfers On Acid”, and it’s stable-mate A-side, “Mantra” HERE. You can also pre-order their vinyl HERE.
You can give Trabants a follow on their Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok
