Solid Reventlos Need to Learn Less Is More : The Reventlos: “Essential Reventlo” (no label) (** 1/2)

At their best, the Reventlos provide all you could want from a modern rock-instrumental band: crafty juxtapositions of styles, a good ear for inviting riffs and licks, a sure sense of structure and enticing sonic variety.

With guitarists Greg Staples and Matt Quilter in the lead, the veteran foursome shows impressive musicianship. Everything here is reliably well-played, from the most ethereal slide guitar twangs and harmonic pings to the heaviest metal crunch. In between fall such adornments as surfy reverb splatters and space-age satellite blips.

Part of the appeal is that the Reventlos find ways to make those elements overlap as if it were the natural thing to do. The 14 numbers, two with lyrics intoned in a crusty sing-speak, are not equally interesting, and the band’s chief drawback is a tendency toward stretching out songs through repetition when brevity would have been a virtue.

When the Reventlos do click, more than half the time, handed-down styles form a fresh collage.

The surfing-in-space epic “Planet Reventlo” is part gimmicky “Telstar” sound effects and part “Rock Lobster” garage-rock fun. In “Two Roys,” two contrasting themes are beautifully connected: the first a winsome country teardrop vibrato, the second a cinematically romantic rock passage played with bite and elegance.

“Western Stars” recalls King Sunny Ade with its shimmering, delicately needling guitar shivers and gurgling, buoyant African rhythms.

When the Reventlos combine surf with metal, they may not have the flash of Joe Satriani or the wild force of Dick Dale, but they still rock credibly; a dreamy, mysterious mood piece such as “Girl From Colonet” is also within their grasp.

Variety, musicianship, compositional strength--it’s all there, but it might have more impact if some songs were tightened and the package condensed to the 10 best tracks.--M.B.

(Available from the Reventlos, P.O. Box 12012, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.)

* The Reventlos play Sunday at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, 411 Olive Ave. 1 p.m. Free. (714) 960-3483.

Ratings range from * (poor) to **** (excellent). Three stars denote a solid recommendation.