No, not Cabaret Voltaire, nor the French philosopher. I mean the extremely talented fellow who does video art, writes such comics as
Oh My Goth! and also records for Projekt:
http://www.voltaire.net/
He has a new album out, his 'serious' one, but as he wisely notes he tends to do serious as much as silly -- Goth needs more like him!
Why I like him:
* a really fine voice -- he's either a trained singer or just has the knack, and hits a spot that I think a lot of singers in bands would love to find, that of the seemingly effortless breezy delivery crossed with moments of individual flair.
* the music started off on the early albums as, if anything else, Eastern European klezmerpop (a bit, if only a BIT, like what Firewater does to a stronger extreme), and without drums at that! The arrangements have gotten more percussion-heavy and a touch more 'Western' with time but still are very distinct, and steer pretty much clear of more typical gothed-out arrangements while still being attractively dark -- and then, just as easily, jaunty!
* the humor, easily -- one of the people where I DO care about the lyrics a lot, because when he's being serious he's often quite touching (his "God Says" is a more effective meditation on the Deity or lack thereof than XTC's "Dear God," easily, as well as being witty), and when he's being hilarious he's just great. Two of my favorite efforts come from the Boo Hoo album -- "The Vampire Club," a portrait of goth club cattiness in song, and "BRAINS!," which ended up soundtracking a cartoon about alien invaders.
New album just out which is all 'serious' -- includes a fine version of the Cure's "Lovesong" -- but the next will be apparently completely ridiculous. Good on him. Your thoughts?
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 November 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)
I had an ex, who was all in-the-closet-goth and loved him.
And i'd say a fair thumbs up, he's fun. I don't think i'd rush to pick up an album.
― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Saturday, 20 November 2004 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)
two years pass...
Said new ridiculous album Ooky Spooky is finally out = genius, again. "Cantina" in particular is the ultimate weapon against Kevin Smith.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 17:50 (eighteen years ago)
Off topic, but Ned, did you see any shows at the Voltaire space in SD when it was running?
― bear, bear, bear, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 19:05 (eighteen years ago)
I had 3 of his albums at one point but sold them. The jokes got stale quickly and the music, while nice, wasn't compelling. And I love the goth of Bauhaus and the humor of They Might Be Giants! Ah well...
― Mr. Odd, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 01:36 (eighteen years ago)
three years pass...
saw this guy live recently, was a pretty entertaining show! would probably find his stuff offputting if i'd been exposed to a studio album in any other context though.
― JaySeanLilWayne (some dude), Wednesday, 9 March 2011 20:22 (fifteen years ago)
I think it helped in my case that I first encountered him with the debut on Projekt so I thought, "Okay, he's a bit like Thanatos given the humor." Which says more about me as a Projekt geek than anything else, I suspect.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 9 March 2011 20:34 (fifteen years ago)