VOODOO DOLL

Deep funk from down under -- and the stunning full length debut by Australia's finest, The Bamboos. For a while, the group really only had a few 45s ("Voodoo Doll" being one of them) to their name-- but those records alone got The Bamboos plenty of attention, ultimately earning them a deal with Kenny Dope and Keb Darge's label, Kay Dee. Eventually, after word about the band continued to spread, UK based Tru Thoughts signed the act for an album and Ubiquity picked-up the record for North America.

The groove is tight small combo funk at its best -- done in the stripped-down, all-classic mode of artists on Daptone or Soul Fire -- and certainly in the best style of supportive labelmates Quantic Soul Orchestra. The combo's a sextet, with Hammond, guitar, tenor, and trumpet all taking heavy lines through the mostly-instrumental session -- hitting a sound that's a slightly jazzier take on styles The Meters or James Brown Band might have cut at the end of the 60s. "Voodoo Doll" is a wicked nugget of deep funk, proving that there are still worthy artists today bringing a fresh, disciplined, and original take on the genre. And that opening drum break is just killer.