The gypsy-flavored, trance-fueled group known as the Druid Sisters Tea Party, return with their third album, "MoonJuju". Land of the Blind's vocalist Cyoakha Grace and former Jain/SF Mime Troupe drummer Claudia Paige continue to be the Sisters' mainstays, along with Kathy Buys on violin and Jan Martinelli on bass. I'll confess, I ran into Paige in Hawaii last December, when she gave me a sneak preview of the album. Pleasantly motoring around the island, I happily found "MoonJuju" to be another seamless blend of Paige's crisp, world beat polyrhythms, Grace's beautifully crafted vocals and LOTB's Krystov, ably lending his didgeridoo-driven ambiance.Following on the heels of "Gypsy Love Caravan", "MoonJuju brings together a magical weave of tribal jungle drums, big fat funk bass grooves, touches of traditional Irish fiddle tunes overlaid with sweet cello, dreamy trance vocals, Aussie Didgeridoo & African guitar, all spirited songs from the redwood belt you cannot help but fall in love with. From ballads to full out dance songs, this newest collaboration from the Sisters sparkles with incredible energy and performances taking the listeners on a tribal psychedelic journey of dance.
"MoonJuju" features 7 new cuts, opening with the vampy "Electricity" and the sultry and driven "Eliza". Many tunes were also inspired by the Scottish group, Shooglenifty. One example has Paige, Martinelli and Buys springing forth on the rollicking instrumental, "African Moon Suite". "Everyone Loves You" is an interesting Celtic-flavored favorite that perhaps best illustrates the Sisters in their element. Grace's Kate Bush meets Grace Slick vocals are beautiful on this song; Martinelli and Paige are tight as Buys adds some ferocious fiddling.
The Sisters come back to earth on the balladic "Dripping Green Moss" featuring the beautiful cello of Myra Joy. Paige' and Krystov are in a particularly nice tribal groove on the instrumental percussion/didgeridoo piece, "Ancestors Calling", one of my personal favorites. The syncopated final cut, "Midnight Pony Ride" rounds out the Sisters album. A tight jam featuring a whirling dervish of unison between Marinelli and Buys; Grace's airy, effected vocals and Paige's crisply punctuation.
The Sister's "MoonJuju" is indeed "an organic world dance band that pulls its flavors from around the world. Frenzied, irresistible, rhythmic tribal funk, Celtic jigs, psychedelic fiddle, dreamy trance vocals, and hypnotic didjeridu with deep bass, it's a magical woodsy dance hall, and you are guaranteed a crazy jig – or a bone-shaking stomp! You won't find a harder rocking "all-girl" band anywhere."
