Venera 4 - Eidôlon [12", LP]

The EIDÔLON album by VENERA 4 is definitely one of the best shoegaze albums of 2015. Very danceable for most parts as well. It's got wailing guitars, sexy rhythms and ditto whispering vocals. Think of a mixture of Curve and Charlotte Gainsbourg. You only have to listen to songs like Red Blooms and Black Paws as an example, and you'll understand what i mean. Brilliant stuff. I was already stoked about their Seabed Terror 7" and Deaf Hearts EP, but this full length meets all expectations. Also the artwork (front, back, insert) by singer Morgane Caux is classy. This limited edition on white vinyl was pressed in 500 copies. Hopefully they'll do some touring this year because i'd love to see them over here in the Netherlands. It's not that far from Paris, guys - hint, hint ;)

Label: Requiem Pour Un Twister
Cat.nr.: RPUT 15
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Pygmalion
02. Red Blooms
03. Black Paws
04. Eidôlon
05. 3 Studies For A Portrait

SIDE B:
01. Aimer Ann
02. Orange
03. Some Girls
04. Colored Fields
05. Metal Shells

Venera 4 - Deaf Hearts EP [12"]

As i've mentioned a few weeks ago when i wrote about their Seabed Terror single, i only learned about VENERA 4 earlier this year. A great band from Paris with a sound that's rooted in the early nineties. I wrote that Curve was one of the bands that came to mind when i heard their song Sun, and with Home on this DEAF HEARTS EP that's the case once again. It's the howling guitars that are causing this, i'm sure. Deaf Heartbeats vaguely reminds me of the band Crocodiles, and just like on the 7", it's the B-side here that has the best song on it. Haunted Summer is a brilliant slow-paced tune that preferably should be listened to at high volume to hear its full magnificence. Definitely one of the best shoegaze songs of the past years, as far as i'm concerned. The EP is limited to 300 copies, hand-numbered on a paper insert.

Label: Requiem Pour Un Twister
Cat.nr.: RPUT5
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Deaf Heartbeats
02. Home
03. Blood
04. Ash & Gray

SIDE B:
01. Haunted Summer

Venera 4 - Seabed Terror [7"]

This SEABED TERROR 7" is the debut release by VENERA 4, a band from Paris. It came out in 2013, a few months before they released their Deaf Hearts EP. Only 250 numbered copies were made. I must confess i only discovered this band a few weeks ago when i saw a video of a song of their upcoming album Eidôlon, which immediately got me hooked.
The A-side of this single is an uptempo catchy song which reminds me a bit of bands like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Crocodiles, while Sun on the B-side is a slow one that comes closer to My Bloody Valentine, but also especially Curve. It's been ages since i heard a new band sounding (slightly) like the great stuff that Dean Garcia and Toni Halliday made in the early nineties, so i've got a weak spot now for this French quartet. I can't wait until Eidôlon gets released.
The video of that new album that got me hooked, in case you wonder, was Black Paws. Check it out if you've got some time. Not only is it an amazing tune, but also the video itself is great. Morgane and Annabelle are as charming as Miki and Emma were in the Lush videos back in the days. Hope they'll do some international touring to promote the album, because i'd love to see them on stage some day over here in the Netherlands.

Label: Requiem Pour Un Twister
Cat.nr.: RPUT4
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Seabed Terror

SIDE B:
01. Sun