VOODOO RAMBLE, the Croatian blues rock/blues group featuring Boris Zamba (Dugi-Novacki), started-out in 2010 and spent years performing cover songs at biker parties, blues festivals, and the like.
Head-bobbing rhythms, organic vocals, smooth organ, and amazing guitar work all contribute to this band’s fast-paced blues sound.
We considered their “Midnight Train” (the 2020 creative collaboration between bandleader Zamba and award-winning promoter/songwriter network-radio host Pete Feenstra) a forceful boogie that was characterized by oversized riffs and hard-hitting beats.
Their latest studio album, titled ‘In the Heart of the City’ is a foundational recording for the group. The album embodyies every aspect of Voodoo Ramble’s previous accomplishments and delivers more smooth craftsmanship. With a bluesy core, the songs bounce hard on well-written melodies that are given genuine presence by Boris’s expressive vocals and Feenstra’s lyrics.
a jetting interclash of fizzily hydroxy guitars, veritable rock ‘n’ roll bounce, and earsplitting excitement…
RAW RAMP
As Zamba says, “This is [our] fourth album and probably the best one so far. But we’ll let the listeners and broadcasters decide…
It could have been titled ‘Collaboration Blues’ because of the people who played on it. But I decided on the title the moment that songwriter/lyricist Pete Feenstra sent me these amazing lyrics and everything dropped into place.”
The title track, ‘In the Heart of the City’, is a jetting interclash of fizzily hydroxy guitars, veritable rock ‘n’ roll bounce, and earsplitting excitement. If you like chuggy rock, you’ll love this track!
‘Midnght Ride’ (feat. Muddy Manninen) is a compassionate sway of long notes and elegantly cool guitar lines (think Wishbone Four era Ash.) It’s an eloquent heart-to-heart piece with the type of pearlescent shimmer that will remind a listener of sweltersome nights in silhouetted uptown streetscapes. Muggylicious!
‘4000 Years Old’ (feat. Marcus Flynn) is a rusty, thumpy, blues smash featuring caustic lyrics, a distinctive clonk, and high-born backup voices. Marcus delivers some chromatically magical slide on this piece. Galvanized superblues perfection!
This is a fun rock and blues jamboree with plenty of class and a healthy dose of chutzpah!
Words: © Neil Mach
RAW RAMP 