Organ Voodoo

Haunted house music, I guess? Heavy on the spook, but in the Scooby Doo way, not the Paranormal Activity way. Rated PG.

Organ, bass, xylophone. No vocals. It can be kind of jazzy, and it can almost be exotic, but mostly it’s just goofy. This is not an album to write serious blog posts about, but it’s a great album for any radio show with a sense of playfulness and humor. And Organ Voodoo’s sound is actually pretty interesting...nah, I don’t want to take this album seriously. Suffice it to say that these guys describe themselves as “the house band in Satan’s Tiki Lounge.” Delightful.

RIYL if you like Klaus Johann Grobe or haunted houses. Recommended tracks: 1, 2, 6, 9. No FCCs, although it might give the FCC commissioner nightmares if he listens to it after dark.

1) “Mojave Midnight Moonlight” (3:46): Spooky xylophone. Organ pulses minor chords in the background. Like a haunted beach resort.
2) “Dry Martinis and Wet Bikinis” (3:08): Walking bass, accents on the organ. Slower pace, very chill.
3) “The Chow Chow Cha-Cha” (3:00): Spook factor is turned up here. Heavier on the cheese.
4) “Bombay Beach Bondage Boogaloo” (1:57): A little faster here. Some nice dissonant chords.
5) “Rattlesnake Rhumba” (3:11): More distortion. More tripped out. Methodical pace.
6) “Violent Pillage” (4:34): Quick bright start. Bass roars a bit.
7) “Whiskey Tango Fox” (2:41): Haunted organ tango. Thick and heavy.
8) “It’s Smokey” (2:43): Xylophone plonks along on top of some atmospherics. Slow.
9) “Stomp That Bug” (2:51): Brisk start. Almost more of a 1920’s do-the-Charleston vibe. (Confession: I don’t really know what the Charleston is.)
10) “Steely Tiki/Prog Grog” (2:38): Basic little melody on the organ.
11) “Detroit It” (2:52): A bit punkier and thicker. More emphasis on the drums. Whistling, pulsing.
12) “Desert Dream Scene” (3:08): Almost triumphant organ. Celebratory? Huh.

-- Mr. Tumnus