The Locomotives – Bourgeois Voodoo – Vinyl Record

Description

The Locomotives – Bourgeois Voodoo – Vinyl Record

Bourgeois Voodoo, released in 1987, is the second and final album by the British garage/beat band The Locomotives, a group that emerged from the university music scene in the mid-1980s with a distinctive blend of vintage rock ‘n’ roll attitude and satirical flair. Formed at Warwick University in 1984, the band—featuring Joe Cushley on vocals and harmonica, Chris Ingham on guitar and vocals, Simon Stokes on bass, and Simon Kunz on drums—quickly transitioned from covering ’60s garage rock classics to creating their own original material. Their first album, From the Finest Rolling Stock, released in 1986, laid the groundwork for what would become their defining artistic statement with Bourgeois Voodoo.

This sophomore release captures the raw, fuzzed-out spirit of 1960s garage rock but filters it through a uniquely British lens, with an undercurrent of absurdist humor and biting social commentary. The title itself—Bourgeois Voodoo—hints at the band’s ironic take on middle-class conformity and pseudo-spiritual posturing. Musically, the album brims with retro-flavored energy, featuring sharp guitar riffs, surf-style rhythms, and organ-driven melodies. Tracks like “Motoring Made Metaphorical” and “Call for the Witchdoctor” demonstrate the group’s ability to marry garage rock’s primal power with tongue-in-cheek lyricism. The songs are peppered with clever wordplay, cultural references, and a performative edge that places The Locomotives firmly in the realm of post-punk eccentricity, even as they remain stylistically loyal to ’60s influences.

Though the band never achieved mainstream recognition, Bourgeois Voodoo gained a cult following, particularly among collectors and fans of the garage and mod revival scenes. Released on Big Beat/Ace Records, the original UK vinyl pressing included a green lyric sheet—a fitting touch for an album so invested in the interplay between music and language. Unfortunately, the band disbanded shortly after the album’s release, making it their final statement and leaving behind a brief but memorable legacy. Today, Bourgeois Voodoo stands as a hidden gem of the late ’80s underground rock scene—a wry, energetic, and literate album that captures a unique moment when retro rock revivalism intersected with sharp postmodern commentary.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal

Ace / Big Beat Records 1987

Track Listing
Motoring Made Metaphorical
Make Them Eat Cake
Skeletons In The Cupboard Love
Bad Money
Call For The Witchdoctor
I’m Just A Boy (Who Can’t Say Nnn…)
The Dada Express
Bo Diddley Is A Limerick Writer
Rm To Lt
King Canute And Queen Philippa
Smile As You Die
‘The Trash Aestetic’: Discuss