Americana roots music takes
a tropical holiday

Bermuda Triangle Service - High Swan Dive
(BTS)
3 stars (out of 5 stars)
Reviewed: Dec. 13, 2004

Review by Tony Bonyata

On Bermuda Triangle Service's debut album High Swan Dive the San Francisco-based three-piece blends indie-pop rock with a tinge of alt-country and earthy blues, all gently kissed by a salty Caribbean breeze.
Led by vocalist, guitarist and violinist Cynthia Wigginton (also founding member of Richard Buckner's The Doubters and Bedlam Rovers, as well as touring violinist for both the Mekons and Alejandro Escovedo) Bermuda Triangle Service delivers a laid-back, inviting and often intoxicating first offering,
Helmed by producer Karl Derfler (The Who, Talking Heads, No Doubt, Roky Erickson), the overall production and arrangements are stripped-down, organic and extremely relaxed. Wigginton's sultry vocals provide the bedrock for many of these self-penned numbers, while her bluesy slide guitar ("Motel Five"), haunting violin ("Kukui Lei"), spirited electric guitar (on a cover of Billy Childish's "Pokerhuntus Was Her Name") and tropical slide that drips over bassist Robert Malta and drummer Adam McCauley's unobtrusive rhythms on "Six Years" prove to be just the right understated mix. Adding even more interest are the inclusions of the otherworldly melodica, musical saw and harmonica.
The only real complaint on this otherwise pleasing debut is the similar slow tempos that dominate all ten songs. If, in the future, Bermuda Triangle Service adds more dynamics and musical emotion into songs as entertaining as these, then they should be able to avoid getting lost at sea for their follow-up.