The Vooduo - Have Voodoo Will Travel, Rock and Roll Creatures, Voodoo U Luv

 

We picked up these three CD's from the Vooduo when we saw them a few days back in Tucson and they are mighty fine finds!

It appears that Have Voodoo Will Travel! is the oldest of these three, recorded in 1998 (although with two more later copyright dates) and it highlights their stripped down sound of guitar'n'drums, although there is a "special guest appearance by Kim Thing on bass", and there is an occasional guitar overdub. But their own take on Cramps-ian garage/trash with plenty of spooky'n'B-movie themes are abundantly clear right from the start. With titles like "World's Greatest Sinner", "Maddest Story Ever Told", "Her Flesh Was Cold", "Burn Witch Burn", etc., and covers like the Sonics' "The Witch", they certainly wear their influences on their sleeves! While fairly trashy in nature, the sound is actually pretty darn good, with strong drum tones and simple, hip, reverbed guitar. Kinda reminds me a little of the Beguiled (who I loved, of course) at times, along with their other, more obvious influences.

They got away with ripping off Ray Dennis Steckler's Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies in both title and graphics for their 2011 release (in Zombi-Phonic Sound!) but by this time their sound has improved and for a good portion of the CD they have extra added keyboards/theremin, courtesy of Dave Klein, who is also responsible for the sound - great job! Max's vocals are better than ever, as well, as they steal from the likes of the Sonics, the Cramps and more - no outright covers here, but you will be reminded of a few other bands now'n'again, but with clever arrangements and their own twists'n'turns!

They moved quickly from there and Voodoo U Luv (dig the title) came out the following year - 2012. Again, Dave Klein adds some spooky sounds while Rad Ryan Fitzgerald contributes some extra vocals. The Vooduo continues with their B-Movie-themed lyrics with titles like "Zombie Love" ("I eat your skin, I drink your blood"), "Evil Eye", "The House on Haunted Hill", "Screaming Skull" and more. Their varied influences are apparent with their cover of rockabilly/trash/garage Ron Haydock's "You Is a Ray Pfink" and a barren take on the Hoodoo Gurus' "Dig It Up" (that Vegas' the Psyatics also tore up). Once again, great sound, cool performances all around and the musical/vocals additions all contribute without overwhelming. Another great job! (Hah - they have a secret bonus track that is a version of Pink Floyd's "Interstellar Overdrive"! Coolness!)

Definitely check 'em out live if you ever get the chance, but these are all fine releases for lovers of trashy/garage/whathaveyou culture!