Album Review: Venus Burns

Opening with a crash of drums and melodic guitar the ever-fresh sound of The Roulettesannounce their latest album Venus Burns with the rousing opening track Stealing Electricity.

Thankfully the band have not strayed from their captivating psychedelic sound with songs that are loaded with glorious guitar chords full of sparkling harmonics and hypnotic stomping rhythms. Their music is like a mesmerising lava lamp that is alive and flows to their broad choral musical compositions, that is surprisingly created by just 3 instruments!

A wonderfully catchy vocal cry imbues the title track Venus Burns while Justin McLean’s lead guitar and vocal bends and weaves giving the track an extra burst of psychedelia. Other highlights of the album are Mark Queenin’s rolling drums on Dogs which propel the drilling guitar riffs, while Slow Dance bops along full of flowing musical harmonics boosted by its upbeat rhythm.

I love the rock vibe on Girlfriend with its abundance of guitar rock riffs and cymbal crashing perfection. Alchemy has a cool and classy vocal from Justin with nice backing vocals from Bassist Ben Grant round this catchy tune off with nonchalant style.

The Roulettes compositions on this album are a psychedelic union of progressive and traditional arrangements that blend into a dazzling harmonious fusion of sound that invoke visions of everchanging colour and light, who could ask for more.

_{Review written by Andrew Smit}