Teke::Teke

FINALLY, A BAND THAT BLENDS CLASSIC JAPANESE BALLADRY, SURF ROCK AND PSYCHEDELIA

- Gregory Adams

WHEN MONTREAL'S TEKE::TEKE first formed to cover the music of Japanese surf guitar icon Takeshi Terauchi, bandleader Sei Nakauchi Pelletier aimed to capture the explosive, tube-carving essence of his hero's playing, rather than recreate his gear haul. Nevertheless, when Pelletier recently found an old Mosrite online - the late Terry's brand of choice he knew he had to grab it. Trouble is, his new toy hardly gets as much play as the worn-in Univox Hi-Flier he's been hauling around since Teke::Teke's early days.

"I always go back to the Hi-Flier. I feel like it's just the sound of Teke::Teke," Pelletier says, citing the vintage offset's highset whammy bar and grittier presence as reasons for making it his go-to. "It's almost too slick, the Mosrite - too hi-fi, somehow.