"Swingin' At The Seance"
The Moon-Rays
SVI, 2008
(Review
by Jeff Berkwits)
Swanky spirits and cool ghouls are present in abundance on the latest offering
from these renowned purveyors of surf, horror and spy-fi melodies, who
this time turn their tuneful talents to digging up spooky swing and big
band numbers written and recorded prior to 1950. What's especially haunting
about the dozen songs is the fact that most haven't been previously covered
by other acts. The band does a remarkable job encapsulating the music's
classic provenance while at the same time adding a few unmistakably contemporary
flourishes.
"You've Got Me Voodoo'd"
nicely captures both the frantic energy and gritty sound of the Louis Armstrong
original, even as the instrumental "Mysterioso," first recorded by Artie
Shaw in 1945, provides a suitably sly bass beat. Other standouts include
"The Spooks Jump In" -- one of the disc's three modern compositions --
and "Haunted House Blues," which closes out the effort on an intoxicating
note courtesy of guest vocalist Theresa "Dixie" Villec. All in all, it's
the perfect platter for any dark and stormy night.
Buy this album from
Visit
The Moon-Rays Website
A long-time aficionado of retro music and movies, Jeff Berkwits
has covered vintage sounds for numerous publications and websites including
Bachelor
Pad Magazine, Filmfax, Outré, and
Amazing Stories.
He can be reached at jeffberkwits@sbcglobal.net.
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