Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Something old, something new, something borrowed, lots of things blue…The Voodoo Sheiks cover all the bases with their new album Borrowed & New.
Borrowed & New sees The Voodoo Sheiks lead with something rich, diverse and ultimately a pleasure to wriggle into, an album of many different features but with one goal squarely in mind, to give the Blues a good going over and rock the life out of it, to give it a good shake and tell it to misbehave, to disobey the sometimes tight regulation attached and play up all night long. In that Andy Pullin, Slowbox Dave, John Coombes and Adrian Thomas tear into the Blues, their own temple building songs and tracks by some of the greats, and start to put up the adjoining and naughty beat alongside.
The album, as perhaps hinted at, is split into two camps, the five new tracks and the borrowed, the songs up for hire and loaned on with the understanding wink that something terrific must be heard. Something very, very blues but understandably so exhilarated it could give a Formula One racing car a ten lap head start and still finish, be upon the podium spraying champagne and giving interviews way before the car hoves into view spluttering with exhaustion and circuit dust pouring out of its driver’s helmet.
Whilst the attention will naturally on the borrowed tracks, with songs such as John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom, Califf’s and Dykes’ Boogie Man and Lieber and Stoller’s Hog For You Baby being incredible additions that could peak anybody’s interest to the point of volatile spontaneous elated eruption, it is the first five songs on the album that grab the attention first and make the delving into the past a pleasure waiting to be had.
Even if you’re not a fan of songs being covered, (something that unless you are able to change them in some way and give your own personal stamp upon, is sometimes advisable to be left well alone), to attach five new songs to them and have them join up so well to the point where even the most senior of seamstresses cannot see the stitched connection is something to praise. Whilst the songs lyrically don’t stray too far from the Blues formula, they are such a delight to sit and listen too, the Blues fix gratified and indulged and all because of the kick up the backside with the rock blaring out with heavenly indulgence.
Chiefly amongst them are the tracks Lucky So & So, Bitter (And Then Some) and the highly enjoyable I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog That Way, songs that might not blow your mind but will certainly leave a hell of a dent where the T.N.T. collides with the senses.
Borrowed & New works on so many levels and is a testament to the appeal of The Voodoo Sheiks.
Borrowed & New is released on May 5th.
Ian D. Hall