HELLBOUND HYMNS - THE URBAN VOODOO MACHINE

London’s bourbon-soaked gypsy blues, bop ‘n’ stroll band The Urban Voodoo Machine are back with their fourth album, Hellbound Hymns

Anyone who knows The Urban Voodoo Machine probably associates them with having a good time. Indeed, if you’ve seen them live, chances are it is one of your most fun gigs ever. However, the band have had a bit of a tough time recently, with some sad losses. We’re pleased to see, however, that they remain as strong as ever in the face of adversity and are still expressing their colourful character through this new release.

The album does start with the somewhat dark, “While We Were All Asleep”, it’s not a song to play for your kids, or even yourself, just before bed time! We then move on to the swing style of “Love and Addiction”, which is a classic Urban Voodoo Machine tale of woe and despair.

The tone does pick up with the more ragtime flavour of “Shattered Dreams”. Along with songs like “Bucket of Blood” and “Hit The Road Rag”, you know on first listen that these are going to be live favourites. Inevitably, they will lead to drunken sing-a-longs. The great thing about The Urban Voodoo Machine is that they deliver all their songs with emotion and passion. So whilst “All Mixed Up” will get you up and dancing, “Baby’s Turning Blue” could well bring a tear to your eye. In “Destiny Angel”, you have a song that would be perfect for a Tarantino Western.