Huevos Rancheros "Dig In!" 1995***

Huevos Rancheros were a Canadian surf trio (1990-2000) which, according to wikipedia, "was (in its early days) sometimes described as a cross between Led Zeppelin and The Ventures". Well, maybe in the early days there was a bit a of Zeppelin in the mix, but by the time of their third album "Dig In" the guitar wasn't bluesy or heavy at all. And, like most instrumental surf music, this is mostly about guitar. The Ventures comparisons now yes, I understand: just listen to "Secret Recipe" or the mid-tempo "Where's The Bathroom" and "Girl From N.A.N.A.I.M.O." The album's highlight and lead single is undoubtedly the instrumental version of Frankie Laine's "Jezebel" with dazzling guitarwork reminiscent of Dick Dale and enough Mexican/Western flavour to justify the band's name. Some Western twang creeps up here and there "American Sunset", the grungy "64 Slices Of American Cheese", and rockabilly-ish "Go West Young Bee". There's a welcome 60s garage flavour in the farfisa organ of "Go West Young Bee " and Yarbirds-like intro of "Who's Your New Girlfriend?", 50's rockabilly in "Rockin' Lafayette" and the unnamed hidden track, wild psychobilly in "Rockin' In The Henhouse" and "Gump Worsley's Lament", while "Whiteout In Wyoming" and "Evacuation" add a bit of spy-movie mystery to the mix. Like the dish that gave the band its name, it's all about tasty ingredients combined well. Huevos Rancheros do have the necessary touch, but surf music is a rather limited genre, so despite their best efforts it still sounds a bit samey to my ears.

**** for American Sunset, Who's Your New Girlfriend?

*** for Secret Recipe, Whiteout In Wyoming, Rockin' In The Henhouse, Where's The Bathroom (In Spanish), 64 Slices Of American Cheese, Gump Worsley's Lament, Evacuation, Rockin' Lafayette, Go West Young Bee 

** for Girl From N.A.N.A.I.M.O.

P.S. I started this blog picking random albums from my collection to review, but nowadays I'm either reviewing my latest acquisitions or stuff I feel like writing about. The inspiration for picking this particular CD was my girlfriend's delicious huevos rancheros. Here's the recipe for those who'd like to try it out: First make the refried beans. You'll need 250gr. black beans, 2 onions, 2 garlic cloves, oil, a bay leaf, salt and pepper. Soak the beans overnight, boil with a bay leaf and some salt and pepper, and drain them. Keep 1 cup of the water. Heat a pan, add 1 spoon of oil and the onion and garlic finely choped. Add the beans and water from the boiled beans. Keep stirring until the beans burst open, then squash everything with a fork. If you're in a hurry you can also use canned refried beans, but I can't guarantee it'll taste the same. Warm the tortillas on the pan and leave them in a bowl to get a cup-like shape. Then make the sauce: grind one tomato and boil it with a garlic clove, one jalapeno pepper, salt/pepper/sweet paprika powder and a couple spoonfuls of tomato paste for 3-4 minutes. Put it through the blender for a smoother texture. Warm some oil on the pan and fry the eggs. When the white is done, turn it over for 10-15 seconds so that the yolk will be cooked but just a little wet inside. Use the tortilla as the base, add 2 tablespoons of refried beans, the fried egg, salt and pepper and tomato sauce on top. Serve with coriander. Yummy!