Venus Verse - 'Phazes EP' (unsigned review)
Everything that was old is new again. There are an increasing number of bands that are taking that most maligned decade of music, the '80s, as their launch point and making exciting new music. Venus Verse from Vashon just South-West of Seattle are the latest to go this route.
Their debut EP has flavours of bands such as Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure and even Blondie in it's recipe and it makes for a strange mix of nostalgic reverie and modern indie excitement. Of the modern bands that you can hear in the mix, Stars comes through strongest, although there is a definite trip-hop flavour present as well. The use of male/female vocal dynamics on different tracks makes for a diverse auditory experience that is never samey or dull.
Opening track 'Loving Arms' could be a simple love story, but the lyrics have a dark undertow that is hightened by a bass line that could have been lifted wholesale from 'A Forest' by The Cure. It's an impressive opener that promises great things to come.
'Dreaming Again' opens with an urgent, hi-hat heavy drum loop and another strident bass riff that keeps you deeply involved in the song until the suitably dreamy vocals come in. This time the easiest influence to spot is Echo & The Bunnymen, with the short, spiky guitar parts and strong keyboard section.
Next track 'Not Quite Juliet' is the first chance that the female vocalist has to lead the track. Her simple vocal line is layered over a moody, repetitive riff that manages to be both urgent and delicate. It's a long song that comes across as trippy rather than epic.
Probably the weakest track on the EP is 'Whisper'. The band tries changes in tempo and pacing that aren't entirely successful. Nevertheless it is a nice enough down-tempo number.
The most ambitious track is the closer. 'Paris' takes the vague trip-hop influences that have been present in the other tracks on the EP and brings them full-bloodedly to the fore. When the track opens with a vibraphone riff and then the female vocalist comes in over the top it's a heady feeling of Portishead being covered by a cool-jazz band. This time the transitions into different tempos are handled masterfully and later there is a bluesy guitar riff worthy of Gary Moore. Structurally the track is similar to 'Paranoid Android', but the sound is much more appropriate for a chill out room.
Overall this is an impressive debut that manages to fill the gap between the early '80s and the early '00s. Particularly impressive is the bass work. So often the bass is simply a rhythm scaffold for the other instruments to work over, but in Venus Verse the bass comes to the fore early and often with impressive results. When it can be done this well I'm surprised more bands don't try to do the same thing.
By Colin Gazeley – Ourobouros Podcast
Label: Unsigned (EP availble from the myspace site)
www.myspace.com/venusverse
Click here to read more Venus Verse related news, reviews & interviews!
Bookmark and share this page with:Their debut EP has flavours of bands such as Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure and even Blondie in it's recipe and it makes for a strange mix of nostalgic reverie and modern indie excitement. Of the modern bands that you can hear in the mix, Stars comes through strongest, although there is a definite trip-hop flavour present as well. The use of male/female vocal dynamics on different tracks makes for a diverse auditory experience that is never samey or dull.
Opening track 'Loving Arms' could be a simple love story, but the lyrics have a dark undertow that is hightened by a bass line that could have been lifted wholesale from 'A Forest' by The Cure. It's an impressive opener that promises great things to come.
'Dreaming Again' opens with an urgent, hi-hat heavy drum loop and another strident bass riff that keeps you deeply involved in the song until the suitably dreamy vocals come in. This time the easiest influence to spot is Echo & The Bunnymen, with the short, spiky guitar parts and strong keyboard section.
Next track 'Not Quite Juliet' is the first chance that the female vocalist has to lead the track. Her simple vocal line is layered over a moody, repetitive riff that manages to be both urgent and delicate. It's a long song that comes across as trippy rather than epic.
Probably the weakest track on the EP is 'Whisper'. The band tries changes in tempo and pacing that aren't entirely successful. Nevertheless it is a nice enough down-tempo number.
The most ambitious track is the closer. 'Paris' takes the vague trip-hop influences that have been present in the other tracks on the EP and brings them full-bloodedly to the fore. When the track opens with a vibraphone riff and then the female vocalist comes in over the top it's a heady feeling of Portishead being covered by a cool-jazz band. This time the transitions into different tempos are handled masterfully and later there is a bluesy guitar riff worthy of Gary Moore. Structurally the track is similar to 'Paranoid Android', but the sound is much more appropriate for a chill out room.
Overall this is an impressive debut that manages to fill the gap between the early '80s and the early '00s. Particularly impressive is the bass work. So often the bass is simply a rhythm scaffold for the other instruments to work over, but in Venus Verse the bass comes to the fore early and often with impressive results. When it can be done this well I'm surprised more bands don't try to do the same thing.
By Colin Gazeley – Ourobouros Podcast
Label: Unsigned (EP availble from the myspace site)
www.myspace.com/venusverse
Click here to read more Venus Verse related news, reviews & interviews!
