The Space Cossacks were Washington, DC's premier all-instrumental surf combo from 1996 until 2000. We released two full-length CDs (both on MuSick Recordings), 1998's "Interstellar Stomp" and 2000's "Tsar Wars," three split vinyl EPs, and a bunch of compilation-only tracks (including tributes to the Ventures, the Shadows and Link Wray). A retrospective compilation CD "Never Mind the Bolsheviks" was released in 2005 on MuSick Recordings. We also played and toured everywhere from Boston to Atlanta to Seattle to Huntington Beach, CA and many points in between, before the band broke up in 2000. We got a lot of critical and fan acclaim and were recognized as one of the top surf/instro acts of the nineties surf music revival. Thank you to those of you who supported our band through our four years together. We had a wonderful time, and made many memories, as well as much music of which we are very proud.
EXCERPTS OF REVIEWS OF INTERSTELLAR STOMP:
"If you buy one instrumental rock album this year, let it be the Space Cossacks’ debut on MuSick Recordings... The Space Cossacks are in an elite class of their own."
- Tom Warner, Cool And Strange Music, Issue 9
"...Simply incredible. A vital and important genre release... If you buy no other genre recordings this year, do not pass this one up. It may very well end up being the surf instro album of 1998!"
- John Blair, Discoveries, June 1998
"Heady, exciting stuff... The Cossacks are undoubtedly top-drawer... If you like surf, or just exciting guitar playing, then do not miss this."
- Dave Burke, Pipeline, Summer 1998
"If you can only afford one surf record this year, it really should be Interstellar Stomp... In 20 years, this will be remembered as one of the most important recordings of the 3rd wave... It blows everyone else out of the water."
- DJ Johnson, Cosmik Debris Online Magazine, April 1998
"The Space Cossacks debut CD provides a nostalgic look back at the heyday of guitar instrumentals, while clearly breaking new ground for the entire instro genre."
- 20th Century Guitar, May 1998
"The Space Cossacks are among the best of the trad-based surf bands... This is high-intensity, melodic, infectious surf instrumental music.
- Phil Dirt, Reverb Central Website
"...A fine debut collection... Their brand of upbeat guitar twanging is likely to get them one of this year’s best received CDs... Astonishing first set."
- Davy Peckett, New Gandy Dancer, Issue 52
"Fantastic debut album... The Space Cossacks have taken the surf music scene by storm with their originality...This is a ‘must’ CD to have..."
- Bob Dalley, Surf Music USA, June 1998
"The Space Cossacks play surf music with a Dick Dale fury... While they may draw stylistically from the giants of the genre, ‘Interstellar Stomp’ is an intense and melodic wave of surf instrumentals."
- Timeout
"...Packed with tone and memorable melodies..."
- Jim Hilman, Vintage Guitar, January 1999
"I’ve collected surf records for 20 years and will vouch for the fact that only an elite handful, including this one, have raised gooseflesh on my arms after 15 beers."
- Carbon 14
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EXCERPTS OF REVIEWS OF TSAR WARS:
"The best new guitar instrumental disc I've heard this year... consistently delivers the goods... an A+ instro disc!"
- Cool And Strange Music
"No sophomore jinx here... what's so amazing, and one of the things that sets the Space Cossacks apart from other bands, is that every song drips with class... they are the best there is, plain and simple... the difference between them and the other excellent bands in the surf scene is the difference between a classic and a good movie - the Space Cossacks are the Casablanca of surf."
- Cosmik Debris
"Tsar Wars reaffirms the Space Cossacks position as one of the top surf-instro groups on the planet... they really stoke the instrumental fires on this master-stroke of reverb and twang... a sure to be classic of surf-instro... the group is rewriting the script for the surf music community to follow... could be the greatest instro album ever made... it just doesn't get better than this."
- MuzikMan @ Music Dish
"Worth the wait... Packed with great tunes and playing of quite extraordinary virtuosity... buy yourself a copy now!"
- HangNine
"This is a stunning release... the writing and musicianship are excellent, and the unique blend of Russian and Spanish influences with surf and space make this a standalone disc... recommended... four stars."
- Phil Dirt @ Reverb Central
"Tsar Wars will surely be among the top five of the year... features a modern power edge and cool melodies/hooks along with stunning guitar tones and slick fretboard work... In many respects a stronger effort than their first CD... very entertaining and strongly recommended."
- John Blair @ Discoveries
"Tsar Wars carries on the Space Cossacks' impressive work... a gelled and cohesive platform from which are launched imaginative adventures into the galaxy... there seems to be an amazing amount of top notch new instro bands around right now, but there's no doubt that the Space Cossacks deserve to be counted amongst the very best."
- Pipeline
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