''To the Bottom of the Sea'' is the sixth studio album by Cuban American dark cabaret singer Voltaire. It was released in 2008, and would be the first album by Voltaire to be released through his then-newly-founded label Mars Needs Music (named after his son, Mars). It is a loose

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

, set in the fictional country of Vorutania.

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

musician

Julia Marcell Julia Marcell (born 1982) is a Polish singer-songwriter and pianist. Career Marcell was born Julia Górniewicz in Olsztyn, Poland in 1982. Her father, Józef Górniewicz, is a Polish pedagogue and was the dean of the University of Warmia and Ma ...

would provide additional vocals for the duet "This Sea"; Voltaire would also cover a song by her, "Accordion Player", originally present in her 2007 EP '' Storm''. Voltaire's son Mars is among the ones who provided additional vocals for the track "Stakes and Torches (The Uprising of the Peasants)". Franz Nicolay of

The World/Inferno Friendship Society The World/Inferno Friendship Society (also referred to as World Inferno, or Inferno) was an American band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merged punk, soul, klezmer and jazz, while its collective membership featured horns, piano and guitar ...

provided the accordions for the album, in his first collaboration with Voltaire. A music video was made for the track "Happy Birthday (My Olde Friend)"; it would be Voltaire's first (and only so far) music video ever.

Background

"Coin-Operated Goi" is a cover/parody of

The Dresden Dolls The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer (lead vocals and piano; additional: keyboards, harmonica, ukulele) and Brian Viglione (drums and backing vocals; ad ...

' " Coin-Operated Boy", originally written by

Amanda Palmer Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer (born April 30, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and performance artist who is the lead vocalist, pianist, and lyricist of the duo The Dresden Dolls. She performs as a solo artist and was also a ...

and

Brian Viglione Brian Viglione (born May 16, 1979, in Greenville, New Hampshire) is an American drummer best known for his work with The Dresden Dolls and Violent Femmes. He was also a prominent member of New York City's cabaret punk orchestra The World/Inferno F ...

. Voltaire stated that he originally wrote "The Beast of Pirate's Bay" to entertain Mars and his friends during one of Mars' birthday parties, even though the version included in ''To the Bottom of the Sea'' was slightly modified; the original, unaltered version of the song would be included on the 2010 compilation ''

Spooky Songs for Creepy Kids ''Spooky Songs for Creepy Kids'' is a compilation album released in 2010 by Cuban American dark cabaret singer Voltaire. It is a collection of Voltaire's songs, ranging from 1998's '' The Devil's Bris'' to 2008's '' To the Bottom of the Sea'', ...

''. In his official YouTube channel, Voltaire disserts on the meanings of the album's songs and what inspired him to write them.Aurelio Voltaire – To the Bottom of the Sea song meanings (parts 1, 2 and 3)
/ref>

Track listing

Personnel

* Voltaire — vocals * Matthew Goeke — cello * Glenn Sorino — drums, additional vocals (track 3) * Gregor Kitzis — violin * Franz Nicolay — accordion *

— additional vocals (track 7) * Doe Deere — piano * Johnny Kalsi — goblet drum * Reut Regev — trombone * Andy Navarro, Ian Danger, Jasper Vigil, Mars — additional vocals (track 3)

References

{{Authority control 2008 albums Voltaire (musician) albums Concept albums