Heart Attack Alley – I Put A Spell On You
Voodoo Rhythm Records – VR714
I Put A Spell On You / Cryin
Beware! This tiny piece of vinyl is not for the faint at heart. Heart Attack Alley (the name says it all) is a trio from Auckland, New Zealand. To be honest, the only rockin’ thing I knew from Auckland was RockinnReelininAucklandNewZealandXXX, the live album that the mighty Cramps recorded there. In a certain manner you can compare Heart Attack Alley to the Cramps in their no frill/no-concession approach. But the sound is more stripped down and close to the bone. If you desperately looking for a comparison, let’s say that they’re closer to Billy Childish’s early blues albums. The band consists of Dr Karl Stevens on harmonica (in which he blows in as if he was possessed) and foot percussions, Kristal Gallagher, on hypnotic guitar, and Caoimhe Macfehins on vocals. How could I describe Miss Macfehins vocals? She gives it all. It seems that every song is a matter of life and death. On their cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ I Put A Spell On You, she sometimes makes me feel like Tina Turner returned from the grave after a Voodoo ceremony fronting a demented combo in the dark swamp of Louisiana. On the B side, Cryin’ is equally good and sounds like a psychotic version of an Alan Lomax field recording.
Debbie & Jackie
