Kickin’ back In the Valley of Love and Guns
Soraia
In the Valley of Love and Guns
Independent release, 2013
“Love Like Voodoo” kicks this thing off and never looks back. A determined gritty 60’s flavored garage rocker that’s propulsive, 
compelling, and catchy as all get out. It’s hard to argue with the facts here, ‘cuz Little Steven Van Zandt has played it on his “The Underground Garage,” radio show and declared it to be one of his “Coolest Songs in the World.”
Back to back with the barn burning “Want What I Want,” singer ZouZou Mansour sounds as if she’s channeling Tina Turner, circa 1968. There’s a raunchy saxophone solo that lets loose in the middle, and it’s just dead sexy.
And rather than, slow it down a bit, “Wild Imagination” feels like The Cramps suddenly fronting a more refined band. This is gritty, fast and dangerous. Hell, just listening to this CD feels like you’re probably doing something wrong. So you know it’s a good time.
“Never Again” takes on some of the high drama and production that inspired The Ronettes and The Shangri-La’s. Who ever is responsible for the production on this track needs to congratulate themselves for the deft and subtle hand they took adding just the right touches. It would have been easy to be ham-fisted and over-do the production. But everything here is just enough. Enough to nail down the references and make the song shine brilliantly in its own right.
Closing number, “Love Amnesia” is a funky, sly soulful workout, about a love that feels like a one way street. I’m glad she wrote this song rather than go on Maury or Springer and piss and moan about how useless this man is as a man. Clearly he’s good at something, when he can find the time to get around to it. There’s some great Stax variety horns on this song to push thing forward and make you get up offa that thing.
Jon Bon Jovi collaborated on the songwriting on this record. I’ve never been a fan but will cotton to the fact that the man knows how to write a song. Whatever his influence is here, he has allowed the band Soraia, it is a band, not just a person, to shine. Bringing out the best in them rather than merely reflecting himself.
There’s an undeniable energy that burns brightly on this disc, with some serious uptempo soulful numbers. The ballads are great, and hearken back to simpler times. Soraia feel like a wonderful vinyl find, from hours spent picking through crates of records. Something I’m lucky enough to be able to discover, and as I listen, stare in disbelief at my good fortune, not sure I can fully believe everything the speakers are telling me.
