Once again the sultans of sound at Trumpeter Records have delivered. The label that has given us On Beyond Zee, Sea Of Souls, Egypt and a host of other regional and local acts now offers The Mundahs, and unpretentious trio from South Carolina.

When I first listened to "Tropical Update," I was immediately struck by how easily these guys get lost in their music. With song times running anywhere between 7 and 8 minutes, and one musical marathon called "The Animal" clocking in at over twelve minutes, it's apparent that no one in the studio had a stopwatch handy.

That's just as well because the music, while not always radio-friendly, is very infectious and entices the listener to become absorbed by it. Simply put, you don't want it to end.

Vocalist and bassist Al Cech leads the way through this disc by sharing his thoughts on a myriad of typical and not so typical subjects. His sometimes left-of-center lyrics make for interesting, if not head-scratching reading ("No we're heading out to the serious cornflakes where the joke is to live or die.").

Other tunes like "Splash Casino," "C-Town," and instrumental called "Agua," serve as showcases for Jess Watkins' smooth guitar playing and the subtle but ever present drumming of Dave Myers.

"Tropical Update" is one more reason why local and regional music should not only be acknowledged, it should be revered!

Reviewer:  Greg Brown, courtesy of Flash Magazine.