release date: Jul. 7, 2017
format: digital (12 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Youth (aka Martin Glover)
label: UMC Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Everything You Know Is Wrong - Intro" - 2. "Nine Lives" (live) - 4. "Whiskey, Wine and Ham" - 5. "Money Burns" - 7. "Pop Voodoo" - 8. "I Wanna Be Like You"
3rd studio album by Black Grape released twenty years after Stupid Stupid Stupid (Nov 1997). The band has in essence become a moniker for Shaun Ryder and a band effort is a difficult term in regard to this album. Black Grape is here made up by the two vocalists Ryder and Paul 'Kermit' Leveridge, and all lyrics and music is here credited the two in collaboration with producer Martin 'Youth' Glover - long-time recurring bassist of Killing Joke as well as an established remix-producer for a long list of acts. As instrumentalists, Ryder and Kermit are solely credited for their vocal performances, while Youth is also credited on guitar, bass and for programming. Other musicians contribute as session musicians but the album is without the participation of former Black Grape members Danny Saber and Bez.
Musically, it's very much the continued cycle when it comes to music with Shaun Ryder. It's alt. dance music building on old school funk and soul mixed with neo-psychedelia and bits of electronica. Both in 2012 and again in 2015 Ryder spoke of a new Happy Mondays album in the making, but that never materialised, or: it turned out that it was easier for him to release it under the Black Grape moniker.
The album was met by better reviews than Uncle Dysfunktional (2007) by The Mondays, and it went as high as to number #15 on the UK chart list. Two songs were chosen for single releases: "Nine Lives" and "I Wanna Be Like You".
Pop Voodoo might as well be credited Happy Mondays - it's hard to tell the difference, and what remains are the fingerprints of Shaun Ryder's presence: the characteristic vocal and the half-mad, witty and semi-offensive lyrics. And then there's Kermit, or: where is he? He's there, at times popping up, adding rap, but it's mostly Ryder you notice. My guess is, Youth made most of the music, and he does a fine job composing, playing, programming, producing and mixing a style that fits Ryder's voice. It's neat, warm, funky and danceable club-music, but it does sound a bit outdated, and it just lacks outstanding hooks and rifs, although, it's quite coherent and also clearly bettering Ryder's many recent attempts.
Not great, not bad - somewhat easily forgettable BUT with a nice groove, entertaining moments, and ultimately slightly bettering the '97 album as a more coherent release, although, it's without a great hit like "Get Higher".
