Yesterday, I was listening to the surf band Los Straitjackets and noticed that Soviet pop music often using similar techniques and harmonies. Elements of this style especially common in the soundtracks of Soviet comedies and cartoons. As I explored these sounds, I started to looking for examples, then a cool concept came to mind. Let's imagine a cartoon made in pseudo-Soviet style, full of the quirky charm, retro atmosphere, and serf rock sound.
One day, a Soviet boy named Alesha saw a postcard from Australia. On it, a surfer was gliding across the ocean waves. Alesha was inspired and wanted to ride the waves too. He found a wooden deck and began to training on a small, typical Russian river. Along the way, he ended up in all kind of awkward situations as he searched for a real ocean wave.
For example, he and his buddies steal a tractor and drive it off a bridge to a river. Sneak into a hydroelectric power plant and try to surf the water discharge etc. These scenes are a reference how Soviet government often tried to reshape nature through industrial means.
The deck they use is actually the top part of a coffin. This nod to a creepy aestetic that's common in many subgenres of surf rock.
Soon, Alesha realesed the only way to find the true wave was to go to Australia. He came up with a daring plan. He snuck on a cruise liner and jumped out to the overboard as it passed the shores of Tasmania. KGB agents rushed after him in pursuit. This part is a reference to the real-life defection of Stanislav Kurillov, who escaped from USSR in December 1974.
The scene of action, Alesha ties his pioneer's necktie lika a bandana around the head and escapes On his wooden deck, with the agents chasing him in the motorboats and the jet skis. Surf rock blares as the various sea animals help Alesha evade capture. At the sunset, the dolphins carry him safely to the Tasmanian shore.
In the end, Alesha becomes a surf coach in Australia. The wind of liberty is blowing, music is playing, and Alesha along with his Russians buddies, sea animals, and even KGB agents - are dancing on the beach!
A snippet of the main theme lyrics:
"Lenin lies dead in the cold city square,
A foul stench rolls through the Kremlin air.
While the Red Plague tightens its rusted screws,
I drive the last nail in the coffin—for you!"
I live in Florida and I grew up surfing, so this was a lot of fun to read. Even though I surf, I can't stand surf rock (and most surfers can't either — at least here in Florida). The other day, my brother and I were watching YouTube videos on tv, and we came across this thumbnail of a band (I think they're called Ghost). The thumbnail had all kinds of evil, satanic imagery like upside-down crosses, black robes, pope's hats, skulls, etc., and out of curiosity, we put it on low-key expecting it to be heavy death metal, but it was actually like surf rock! 🤯
@CocoPop Wikipedia states that the genre was part of surf lifestyle. But I've always had doubts about that. If you turn off the reverb and add the distortion, then it sounds just like typical metal music. So, it needs deeper research lol.