Mick Mercer - Goth & Post Punk Writer UK

The dramatic text on the cover rounds everything up into a Steamgoth world and damn me if the music don’t back it up.

The aloof ‘Skullduggery’ wafts in like a grimy but flash miscreant, sonic turbulence and sticky guitar hopping over a limber beat, the accusatory sly chatter tailing off for the perky chorus. A bubblier synth-whisked ‘Absinthe’ drips gauche charm, with gormless lyrics and a catchy guitar line, its juicy strength growing all the while. ‘Black Magic’ keeps that saucy light capering going, the rhythm spry, the dents inflicted by the filleted guitar slick wounds, and the vocals deeply engaging, even if they sound a bit Pink Floyd doing that brick in the wall thing at times. It’s superbly designed, and runs into a tingling, respectfully wiggly ‘Human Fly’ cover with a playfully buzzy synth and delightfully accurate guitar shading, the vocals a tad huskier. Brilliant.

‘Operator’ opts for a quitter approach, with simple vocal repetitions and a fitful mood, which still swings loosely and captivates, sombre and murky. ‘Gemini Lounge’ is thinly beaten pop with a slinky chassis and lyrics about car crashes and James Dean, burbling like a spacey version of The Normal all grown up. That same crafty poise strides right through ‘Cryogenic’ will a subdued funkier glare, and
‘Clairvoyant’ swims steadily ahead into the interplanetary pop void with another mutoid purring gait and nonchalant glam insouciance.

‘Penny Black’ is odd and oddly charming, short and twisting neatly, with chipper, demanding vocals, as they ease back and let the airy music slip by easily, carefree, buoyant and fun, not spiritually divorced from the old Jazz Butcher. Then things turn queasier and inverted for a creamy, gaseous ‘Something Wicked’ that has a more buffed up psyche surge to it, while the grim fun of their bolshy ‘Jekyll And Hyde’ is pretty instant, like a hijacked garage spree, the darker synth styling pushing it towards dank dance quicksand. ‘Good Night’ mopes sweetly, in a gregariously sleepy farewell, and you can’t help but be left in a good mood as it’s an odd twist.

Their most openly inviting and infectious record, by a mile, there isn’t a duff moment on this, and it’s so ludicrously charming I can’t think why anyone wouldn’t like this.

Venus Fly Trap - Nemesis Reviewed by: Mick Mercer

November 2011

mickmercer.livejournal.com

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