Volo Volo

The band built the songs by creating the rhythms first, before adding other instruments on top of the drum patterns.[6] About half of the album was produced by Alan Winstanley and Clive Langer.[7] Jerry Harrison also worked on Volo Volo.[8][9]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
Chicago Tribune	[7]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[12]

The Washington Post wrote that "instead of acoustic rag-tag charm and unpredictability, something [the band's] early recordings had in abundance, Volo Volo offers a more focused and groove-oriented sound."[6] Trouser Press thought that the album "bears an occasional disconcerting resemblance to smart UK popsters like the Smiths, Wedding Present and Waterboys."[13]

The New York Times deemed the band's sound "a kind of world beat-influenced earth music," writing that Volo Volo "celebrates buildings, collarbones, thunder and the joy of shaking one's booty."[14] Spin panned the album, declaring that "this is kinda like a 'Don't Worry Be Happy' stew that's so dull you'll be jonesin' for some raw flesh to bite into."[15] The Philadelphia Inquirer disparaged the "techno-dance seasonings," opining that Poi had hopped on the "EMF/Happy Mondays bandwagon."[16]

AllMusic wrote that "interestingly, Poi Dog Pondering here seems to be attempting a move into a more pop-oriented direction, sounding at times like a bizarre meeting between Santana, the Meters, Wham!, and Simple Minds."[10] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide praised the "amazingly haunting" violin of Susan Voeltz.[11]