Yes, everybody's favourite live band are back with their 4th album proper, 'Hellbound Hymns' and since the last, they have unfortunately lost a couple of members. The record's a fitting goodbye to Brother Nick Marsh (lost to the dreaded Big C) as he features on many of the tracks having recorded his parts while trying to beat the odds, but also Rob 'The Kid' Skipper who tragically didn't listen to the lyrics to Heroin Put My Brothers In The Ground on the last album closely enough.
Well, as expected they come roaring out of the speakers like the best Rembetika meets voodoo band alive (or dead) on While We Were all Sleeping the rambunctious opener that may or may not nick a line or two from Kevin Ayers along the way as they sing about the Jungle in Calais.
Love And Addiction is a brass-led New Orleans-esque marching song about how Paul-Ronney's love is right there under his skin. Shattered Dreams sounds like a Honky-Tonk sing along about the devastation caused by having your dreams shattered by falling in with the wrong addictions which blow you off course. I love the piano breakdown where Slim goes all Professor Longhair on us. It may sound like something that could have been recorded in the 1930's yet it's really contemporary at the same time, so why does it keep reminding me of Bugsy Malone?
Hit The Road Rag opens like it's gonna be The Stripper before the lyrics come in and they sound like they want to be in a juke joint blowing for their lives with some great walking bass from the Rev Gavin Smith. The Ghost From My Bastard Past slows things down like they want to be Slim Chance as Paul-Ronney sounds all rueful and repentant before admitting it ain't gonna happen. He blows some great harmonica as the song really gets into gear and barrels along in its second half.
Bucket Of Blood has been a live favourite for some time and this recorded version is a slow build as the penny dreadful tale of playing in the worst bar you could imagine unfurls complete with screams and howls as the bands' souls get sold again just so they can play some more. Hearing it played slow and careful takes away some of the live menace it can have but I do like the knees-up at the end of the song.
Baby's Turning Blue is a slow burning song about, well, turning blue or having an OD with the sadly typical trajectory of a junkie prostitute on a one way ride to the bottom for herself and her similarly addicted partner. It comes complete with some lush orchestration as she is sadly serenaded into her far too early grave.
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All Mixed Up opens with almost military snare drumming as the piano tinkles in the background and Paul-Ronney almost whispers the lyrics. You wait for the band to come crashing in to tell us how we are all mixed up today and then to let the harmonica do the talking as (yet again) someone is taking the wrong drugs.
Let you Rot flies past with some great twangy guitars. It's almost garage rock in feel as they unload on another person who has upset them. Rusty Water & Coffin Nails is a fine country blues about drowning your sorrows in Whiskey and cigarettes as the woman you desire has gone away. Oh and more fabulous tinkling piano from Slim Cyder.
Destiny Angel is a brilliant Nick Marsh spaghetti western lament and a fitting goodbye. Sad, doleful and full of empathy for those less well off than a dying man. A song that's worth buying the album to own!! Almost in answer to Destiny Angel is Fallen Brothers: a rueful lament for the dearly departed played out over a very slow oompah beat as we all sing and dance and drink and laugh as we make sure to remember our fallen brothers. Naturally, it also manages to cut loose a bit in the middle.
The album closes with Lullabye: a crackly song about a young orphaned child being given a chance at a better future away from the friends of Charlie Brown. It's poignant and almost tear jerking in its simplicity and provides a very cool finale to the album.
This album should be in all your record collections so go and get one from The Urban Voodoo Machine online
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