Voodoo Sheiks
Album: Voodoofication
Label: HokaHey
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.voodoo-shieks.com

With its striking cover art, the Voodoo Sheiks are going to be noticed.

The opening track, The Thrill Ain't Gone, starts promising enough. Throbbing bass, subtle harmonica, straight up and down guitar and a good groove. But midway the song slows down and veers off. It come back for a final flourish but for me it lost impetus.

Have A Heart is a riff-laden blues rocker which blossoms nicely. Flying Fortress is a no-holds boogie. Exit Wound is the obligatorily slow blues, that simmers along.

The Sheiks are Adrian Thomas (guitar/back vocals), Slowblow Dave (Vocals/harp), Andy Pullin (bass) and John Coombes (drums).

Build Me A Woman will have all the PC brigade up in arms and reaching for the phone. But for me it is one of more successful tracks found here.

The album has a great live feel to it and is packed with tremendous energy. New Boogie Disease is an excellent example of what this band is all about.

Two covers are included - the Allman Brothers' Whipping Post and U2's When Love Comes To Town.

While it's interesting hear another a band's take on these classics, they ultimately fell short.

Top marks, however, for getting negative equity into the title of a song. Negative Equity Blues is a typical blues tale of woe with a heavy Hendrix-like style.

Monkey DNA closes the album, great harp and drums lead the way into an upbeat rocker.

John Knighton