The Rambin' Ambassadors grabbed the instrumental garage rock reigns dropped during the dissolution of Calgary's Huevos Rancheros with both hands. Helmed by ace guitar slinger and biggest egg Brent J. Cooper along with bassist Scott Nickless and Tyler Pickering on the skins, their debut album Avanti has all the swagger of the '60s southern California surf scene and an old west opium den compressed into nine tight aural opuses. Over time, The Rambin' Ambassadors have gone farther than The Ventures and made more connections than Link Wray, and this album is where that growth all started.
Avanti very successfully manages to blend the best elements of the Friends of Dean Martinez dreamy spaghetti Western rock and blazing surf/instro-rock. With a fresh, energised record like this coming out, it’s safe to say that instrumental rock is still alive and kicking. - Exclaim!
Avanti's instrumentals weave through Western rambles, Morricone and Calexico style, the rockabilly/psychobilly sound of Flat Duo Jets, and the surf guitar stylings of the likes of Dick Dale or the Ventures... For those who are submerged in the rockabilly culture, the Ramblin' Ambassadors' Avanti might prove to be a nice, sweet listening treat to add to your collection. - allmusic
... sweaty, anthemic, surf tunes with influences as vast as the Alberta landscape worn proudly on their flannel sleeves, be it old-time traditionalists like Ennio Morricone, Dick Dale, and The Ventures, or the new breed of surf/punks, fellow Canucks, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet or Los Straitjackets... Can I get a "Wahoo?" Can I get a "Yee Ha?" Like, "Cowabunga, dude!" Grab your best gal and pull on your lizard-leather boots and get out there on the dance floor. - Fake Jazz
Nine entirely instrumental tracks plow through visions of rejuvenated live crowds, touching on Ennio Morricone and Dick Dale in all their lighthearted danceability. The spirit of fun has the memory of past charm in its crosshairs, hoping those same happy Canucks haven't forgotten their fun-loving mission. This is music to pop in at your next party - perhaps more appropriately if it's a theme party - but it will no doubt get the herd moving. - Lost At Sea
Like Huevos Rancheros, the Ambassadors utilize a very Southern-influenced approach to their songs, but they also add a bit more surf (Ventures, Chantays) to the mix. The songs are actually very catchy and immensely listenable, remarkably 'cool' and worthy of a nice, big audience of surf-hooked hipsters... It doesn't matter if you like instrumental rock or not, you gotta love Avanti. - Indieville
If you have never had the pleasure of hearing what exactly it is that Coop can do to a guitar then you need to run and find Avanti at your local record store. This is some of most adventurous music along the theme of a Spaghetti Western soundtrack ever. Some of the tracks clip along nicely and make you wish you had a car like the Ambassador and then there are songs like "The Hairless Cat" that make you miss your mommy. Avanti is a venture down a path that is rarely taken this day and age, a path that is instrumental guitar rock. Brent Cooper is one of Canada's finest guitar players and Avanti showcases those skills very nicely. - Music Emissions
The guitar work is, of course, outstanding to say the least. Great modern instrumentals. This one's a keeper. - Baby Sue