Venus Fly Trap- Zenith

The latest album from Northampton’s Venus Fly Trap continues the duo’s post-punk electronic explorations, with lead singer Alex Novak’s charming and singularly British baritone – he sounds like Alan Rickman by way of Ian Curtis – delivered over a mix of screeching guitars and throbbing analog synthesizers. “Metropolis” is nicely bleak, and “Naked Ape” throbs with a teasingly slow punk rhythm, but it’s the unexpected pop moments that make this CD such a treasure. “Infra Red” is straight up perky, with laid back guitars, electric pianos and some harmonic vocal work that’s more Beatles than Sisters of Mercy, and “DNA” starts off tense and minimal before floating away on a breeze of pleasantly trippy keyboard effects. “Zen” shows hints of ethnic flavor, with a tribal-inspired drum pattern and flute-like synthesizer effects punctuated by eerie a capella moments. While it’s true the Venus Fly Trap can be a bit too minimal at times, as evidenced by the somewhat dated-sounding “Sabotage,” guitarist and programmer Andrew Denton has a definite gift for arrangements. This album’s final track, “Neg X,” is no less than epic, evolving from a slow dirge to a Joy Division-inspired dance number, then to a no-nonsense rock and roll song that’s so infectious you can’t help but sing along. These guys have been around for a while, and they’re true masters of their craft. They deserve all the attention they can get, so check this one out if you’re into the old school darkwave sound.

Get caught in the Venus Fly Trap at www.spiralarchive.com.