Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Voodoo Court - Nuclear Vacation
 | Voodoo Court's latest disc rides high on the rhythmic gotta have it list. Nontraditional surf mixed with experimental instrumentals, powered with chunk and a grin. Excellent release. |
Picks: Hydrogen Highway, I'm Your Super Nuclear Lover, Every Last One Of Them, Gamma Ray On a Summer's Day, For The Love Of Neptunium, California Meltdown, Holocost 2001, On The Beach, Red Tide Sunset, Sticky Situation, Cheese Wiz, Armageddon (Tired), Heavy Water
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
"Hydrogen Highway" is a great way to open the CD. Fast and spunky, it has a fine melody line and an infectious beat, as well as a real feel of the surf and the open road. Excellent.
I'm Your Super Nuclear Lover Surf (Instrumental)
The summery melody of "I'm Your Super Nuclear Lover" is both playful and pretty, with an optimistic flow and carefree sound. Quite pleasing.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Every Last One Of Them" is rhythmic and surfy in a Beach Boys kinda way, perhaps influenced by Richie Podolor a bit too. The drums are pretty ambient sounding. Approaches infectious.
Gamma Ray On a Summer's Day Surf (Instrumental)
The writing here has the feel of Mark Brodie from his Beaver Patrol days. Rhythmic and rolling and playful, "Gamma Ray On a Summer's Day" sparkles with innocent optimism. Excellent track.
For The Love Of Neptunium Surf (Instrumental)
This is a slow number with a summer island feel. Very pretty and airy, "For The Love Of Neptunium" sports lazy tropical scenery. Relaxing and quite enjoyable.
Surf (Instrumental)
This post hot rod track comes complete with sirens and a nervously relentless pattern. Quick noodling, jammin' panic, and the chase is on.
Holocost 2001 Surf (Instrumental)
A grimy grind in a grodie format, with chords chunkin' away. Dark, forbidding, and a little too repetitious.
On The Beach Surf (Instrumental)
Grumpy growly winding up followed by dissonant jazzy chords and strangeness all around. While inventive, I found this hard to listen to. It's uncomfortable in an arty way.
Surf (Instrumental)
This Jamaican tinged island breeze is magnetic due to its unusual sound and rhythm. Inventive, infectious, restful, and pristine. I don't know why exactly, but I found myself coming back to this track repeatedly.
Sticky Situation Surf (Instrumental)
Metronomic peanut butter fingers and a nervous spy format. The bridge is interesting, but the rest didn't really do it for me.
Surf (Instrumental)
Funky chicken sandwiches with "Cheese Wiz" and lettuce... that's about as close to this as I can get. Fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Twangy in a "What'd I Say" kinda way, with the bass yearning for the lead that comes along soon enough. Playful and adventurous, and quite unusual. "Armageddon (Tired)" sports a different blend of elements to an enticing end. Excellent.
Surf (Instrumental)
Grumbly double picked meanness, pumped up by dramatic chop chords, then an even bigger grind. Not melodic, but interesting nonetheless.