Wellington band Voodoo Bloo are back with the second single from their forthcoming album, The Blessed Ghost, and given what I have heard so far that it definitely one I am looking out for. I was impressed with Skin, which came out towards the end of last year, and while this one obviously has similarities it is also very different indeed. Voodoo Bloo started as a one-man project by singer/guitarist Rory McDonald, but these days it is a full band with the addition of Daniel Maslen (guitars), Oli Cass (bass) and Jackson Kidd (drums). What immediately hits the listener is that the sound here is huge, designed to be played in arenas, and in that way is reminiscent of bands like Simple Minds (in particular) and U2. The ears are immediately drawn to the vocals, which are in a strong baritone with Rory rarely going high, and it is only after a while that one realises just how much is going on in the accompaniment.

There are plenty of jangling guitars, but they are never over the top, and there is even a passage where they do not play at all. The beating heart of this song are the drums where Jackson is putting in a huge work ethic, using the whole kit, providing plenty of rolls and emphasis and changing his attack according to the section of the song. At the beginning we even get double snare hits from both sticks, a distinctive sound which is highly effective. As for Oli, for the most part he is the one providing the melodic undertones, and yet again is all over the neck, which is one of the reasons why he is quite high in the mix as while this song does not have Peter Hook-stylings of Skin, he still has an incredibly important part to play. The guitars play off this foundation, with lots of effects, using reverb to create a massive sound.

It is commercial, dynamic, and just a load of fun from beginning to end. Bring on the album guys!!

Rating: 8/10

Links:
https://www.voodoobloo.com/