| CD REVIEW Voodoo Boogie |
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Band : Voodoo Boogie Knowing that I feel strong about promoting Belgian Rock bands, my editor-in-chief takes care to throw anything that relates to that hunger of mine into my to-do box, and thus I frequently come across domestic bands of which I frequently didn't even know they existed...such is also the case with the Limburg (Eastern side of Flemish Belgium) based Voodoo Boogie. It came somewhat as surprise to me that VB already plugged in in 2004 (and has already two releases to its name prior to this one), its 4 musicians (singer/ guitarist Jan Jaspers, piano, Rhodes and Hammond player Wouter Haest, bassist Rob Vanspouwen and drummer Gert Servaes) coming together from different backgrounds (Blues, Alternative, Funk, Pop) with the aim to create their very own greasy compelling sound, each musician trying to bring in his own influences. Still, they had one thing in common: the need to create ultimately deep and hypnotizing grooves for entrancing songs which make one lose oneself in its melodies, giving the listener an out-of-this-world experience. Recorded proof that the quartet could actually fulfill that objective came first with the 2006 released self-titled debut EP, produced by Marc T (whom previously worked with the likes of Noordkaap, El Fish, Soulwax, and others). The EP puts the band on the map locally...but of course there's hunger for more! Produced by their very own bassist (whom already had credits in that area producing an album for DeWolff) the band releases its debut full-length Losing My Cool in early 2008. Paying homage to the band's Blues roots, the album is compelling and psychedelic thanks to even more idiosyncratic experimenting. With airplay on national radio in Belgium (something which I, no longer having the time to check out the airwaves due to too much work for this here website, completely missed out on) the album gets the band's live calendar filled to capacity and sees it travel to Holland, Luxembourg, France and Sweden. Live shows becoming more exciting with an increasing number of die-hard fans, the band gets even more experimental, and decides to take things to the next level (above info taken and re-written from the band's official bio) First step in order to get that done, was to secure a deal with a proper label...and so they signed to Roermond based Dutch label RE Music Records. Second step was to record a new set of duly rehearsed songs, and so during Summer 2010 the band again seeks the seclusion of the studio (Artsound Studio in Helchteren) to record the 11 tracks we now find on the album we've been playing intermittently since the last week (other albums also needing our attention for review, of course). Now of course I have no means to compare this new album with the band's previous outings, but going on what was mentioned in the bio I gather that the guys' further experimenting include the tracks “Sign My Guitar” and “Electric Kissing”, in which the use of somewhat falsetto vocals (combined with the organ) give the tracks a Funky feel which is even somewhat reminiscent of Prince. In “Leave Me Be” those falsetto vocals return to a small degree, but without the Funk effect. Still, most of the album falls under the “Psychedelic Blues” monicker for sure. That the band is also strong vocally, is proven by the short a-capella (only accompaniment some sparse tight-slapping) album closing “The End Of My Day”. I also loved the somewhat lengthier (just over 6 minutes and longest track on the album) instrumental “Alhambra”, a song màde for live improvisations! At the moment of checking (which was after all more than a month àfter the album's release) I was unable to find any full-length tracks off the new album, not on the band's own website (www.) voodooboogie.be (no music player available, but you'll find two videos in the “media” section), nor at their facebook page (5 older songs posted), nor at (www.) myspace.com/voodooboogie (again 5 songs, the two combined giving the eager listener a total of 7 songs to savour and lose him/herself in), so I guess the reader will have to make due with whatever's posted on the album's page at one of the trusted online sales websites (forgot to check, but I'm sure the album is available from both Amazon and iTunes)...or check out the band on one of its future live appearances (list of Dutch and Belgian gigs already planned between now and the end of year are posted at both the band's own site and their MySpace). Meantime, I got myself another addition to my year-lists, in a category quite of their own at the moment! 98/100 Tony. |
