Voltaire - Ooky Spooky

Compared to Voltaire's usual output, one can't help but wonder how this album sounds so - stale. Okay, there were several mediocre tracks on each of his full-lengths, but the stellar pieces - each album had some of those to offer - easily made the listener forget them.

Until now. The songwriting still is there, but what's missing is the raw energy. On an album that has several latin-influenced tracks, it's an unforgivable mistake. Bringing on board someone who actually had an experience in producing traditional latin music (if only to make fun of his suggestions) would certainly have benefitted this material.

Even the kind of neat tracks "Cantina" and "Hell In A Handbasket" sound overproduced and boring on this disc compared to the rawer, but better versions on the preceding EP "Zombie Prostitute", while the Spanish version of "Day Of The Dead" easily overshadows the English version on this one - making the EP a better buy on all counts.

Voltaire returns with his usual array of sarcasm and irony laced Gothic silliness. Unfortunately, the whole self-deprecation schtick is starting to wear thin with me. While a Star Wars parody track would usually garner a good chuckle, it is the duet with Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls that ultimately redeems this album.