Search - Wall of Voodoo :: Dark Continent / Call of the West

Dark Continent / Call of the West
Wall of Voodoo
Dark Continent / Call of the West
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (21) - Disc #1

Raven presents two original, innovative wall of voodoo albums on one cd for the first time: dark continent (i.r.s., 1981) and call of the west (i.r.s., 1982). Wall of voodoo emerged from the late 1970s los angeles punk/a...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Wall of Voodoo
Title: Dark Continent / Call of the West
Members Wishing: 8
Total Copies: 0
Label: Raven (Aus)
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 11/10/2009
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Hardcore & Punk, New Wave & Post-Punk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 612657030929

Synopsis

Album Description
Raven presents two original, innovative wall of voodoo albums on one cd for the first time: dark continent (i.r.s., 1981) and call of the west (i.r.s., 1982). Wall of voodoo emerged from the late 1970s los angeles punk/alternative scene with a unique blend of machine-age junk music and off-kilter pop-rock. Like devo, wall of voodoo's sound was always challenging and entertaining, or as once described, 'classy halloween music, scary but pleasantly so'. The debut dark continent was brilliantly executed with a blend of hyperactive rhythm box beats, western and film noir-influenced guitar, colourful washes of synthesizer and lead singer stan ridgway's distinctive vocals and highly stylised cinematic narratives. Tracks like 'back in flesh' and 'full of tension' dealt with tense relationships in a suitably dark manner. Allmusic guide: 'if originality and artistic vision are any measure of a rock album's worth, dark continent delivers on both counts'. Call of the west is livelier and even more articulate, yielding the now-classic alternative hit 'mexican radio'. 'lost weekend' and 'factory' examined the quiet tragedy of suburban existence. There's intelligence at work and a bite to the music that continues to mark call of the west as a successful and altogether satisfying work. Ridgway left the band in 1983 for a prominent solo career and the band continued for another five years. With superb quality audio, detailed liner notes, colour booklet
 

CD Reviews

Both WoV Albums That Matter, On One CD
Robert Szarka | Norwich, CT USA | 01/15/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't already own these two classic albums on CD, here's the best of Wall of Voodoo's music at an affordable price. Given that Dark Continent has been out-of-print on CD for a while, this disc is also worth buying for that album alone. (The version of Call of the West included here doesn't differ appreciably from the earlier CD release.) There's nothing fancy about the packaging (unlike my vinyl copy, lyrics are not included); and, while the sound quality is quite good, it's nothing special. But this disc does get the job done.



If you're new to Wall of Voodoo, you're in for a real treat. This disc, plus The Index Masters, will give you all of their output that really matters: that is, all of co-founder Stan Ridgway's tenure with the band. Ridgway's voice and Marc Moreland's guitar were made to go together; and, while I'm also a fan of Ridgway's solo work, the compositions here are shorter, sweeter, and more energetic than when he is left to his own devices."
Thanks for the re-release!!!
D. O'Dell | Prescott, Arizona | 12/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This IS the essential Wall of Voodoo. Add the WOV EP to your collection and you've got the best. Forget about 'Sammystown' and 'Happy Planet,' it ain't Wall of Voodoo without Stan Ridgway. I'm so glad this is finally available on CD, my 80s-issue LPs are about worn out! The WOV sound is truly unique, crazy drum-machine beats, Marc Moreland's (RIP) wicked surf/crunch guitar, killer synths and Stan Ridgway's visually-epic lyrics. Call it New Wave, industrial surf, cowpunk, whatever ---there just isn't anything else that sounds like Classic Wall of Voodoo."
Wall of California Desert of Sound
Gerardo Martinez Casas | San Miguel de Cozumel, Quintana Roo, México | 04/23/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was the perfect desert music, a combination Los Angeles punk "X" and country rock "The Doors", at a perfect time, early 80's, where all music with soul in it had a chance to fly above it all. Well crafted tunes with fun and twisted rhythms under clever and road tested lyrics."