Cheap Bin Voodoo

When visiting a used record/cd shop I usually avoid the clearance bins. You just know what they are filled with: cheapo compilations of dance and "alternative" music, forgotten Boy Bands, the store's overstock of New Country, Matchbox 20 cds and other items that might, just might sell with a sticker price of five for five dollars. What is more likely is that they will eventually end up in a landfill.

So last week I decided to see what She Said Boom! (a Toronto shop) had in the three-for-ten-dollar bin.

I snagged a copy of Wall of Voodoo's The Index Masters which I would have paid $10 as a single item. If you are unfamiliar with them, they performed a kind of neo-noir clickety-clack sounding futurism, almost as if Eraserhead was scored by Ennio Morricone. The cd contains their debut EP for the Index label plus ten bonus live tracks, nine of which are previously unreleased (the previously released track is their medley of "The Good the Bad & the Ugly/Hang 'Em High"). Another aspect that made them distinctive is that Stan Ridgway must have been one of the few new wave musicians who told stories in their songs. I can't think of anyone else who did.

What else? A disc by 00-Soul caught my eye. Entitled The Solid Sounds of the 8-Piece Brotherhood I initially thought they may have been a late addition to the lounge/surf revival. Why did I think this? Some of the song titles are "Cosmic Voodoo", "Squad Car", "Intoxica", "Jungle King" and "Super Agent Steve". Nope, no Tiki sounds here, rather very tight, very fine latin-flavoured funk played on real instruments (as opposed to bits of 70's albums with reverb and computerized beats added). This one was a most pleasant surprise.

One more item to get my money's worth. I picked up a copy of the United Future Organization's self-titled cd. I have had a copy of their Third Perspective release for years that I still like: a mix of trip-hop, acid jazz, Goblin samples (OK, one sample) and James Bond suaveness. This cd is similar, but less developed. Still, pretty good in-a-bits-of-70's-albums- with-reverb-and-computerized-beats-added way.