Artist: King Pelican with Chris Barfield
Album: Vaquero / El Mirage
Label: Colorado Instrumental Fanzine
Format: 7” Vinyl (45 RPM, Limited Edition)
Genre: Surf / Instrumental / Spaghetti Western
Description
Two tracks. Wide open terrain.
Vaquero / El Mirage feels like a slow ride through heatwaves and horizon lines. This is desert surf at its core. Twang-heavy guitar leads, steady rhythm, and a sense of space that lets every note breathe.
A standout collaboration between guitarists Chris Barfield and Ernest Hernandez, the record showcases strong, confident songwriting without overplaying its hand. Backed by Darren Kuper on drums and Kris Zebrowski on bass, both tracks carry a laid-back but locked-in groove that gives the whole release its weight.
“Vaquero” leans into that lone rider energy. Confident, steady, and cinematic. Flip it over and “El Mirage” drifts further out, more atmospheric and reflective, like watching the sun drop behind the flats.
There is a clear Spaghetti Western influence running through both sides, but it stays grounded in modern instrumental surf. Clean tones, strong phrasing, and just enough grit to keep it interesting.
Limited edition 45 RPM pressing. A strong pickup for collectors and anyone building out the deeper side of surf instrumentals.
Why We Carry It
This is that crossover lane done right. Surf meets western, stripped back and cinematic. Easy recommendation for fans of desert tones and instrumental storytelling.
For fans of: Ennio Morricone, The Ventures, Los Straitjackets, desert surf, Spaghetti Western soundtracks, reverb-driven instrumentals
