VENN is the Washington, D.C. based
four piece of Jon Fetahaj, Gabe Earle, Julian Earle and
Holden Cihelka. A few weeks ago we
featured the band’s catchy first single, “Surreal” in
anticipation of their self-titled debut EP, which is officially released today
via Bandcamp. Based on the strength of the single, our expectations were exceptionally high. This 4-song EP does
not disappoint.
The EP kicks off with the aforementioned “Surreal”,
a jangly shoegaze number that grabs you by the collar and demands your
attention. After weeks of repeated play, the tune has lost none of its luster
for me. Descriptors like effervescent, energetic and exhilarating all come to
mind, but at the end of the day; “Surreal” is a perfect
noise-pop gem. Its fevered pitch sets the pace for what’s to come.
“Weekday” follows it up and packs a similar
nostalgic punch. In fact, one of the most remarkable things about these young
gazers, aside from sheer talent, is their innate grasp on nostalgic melody. Properly
crafted nostalgic noise pop is not easy to make, but it should sound
effortless, and Venn excels at this. “Weekday” features the same frenzied
guitar work and noisy, cymbal-clanging brilliance captured in “Surreal”, but
the sparkling vocal melody that comes in at 0:37 feels particularly special to
me. This EP is loaded with cleverness, but this track may be the most sonically
sophisticated of them all.
Next comes “Maybe I’m a Liar” – for all intents
and purposes, Venn’s origin song, as it was the first one they wrote together. Compared
to the two tracks that come before it, “Maybe I’m a Liar” is less raucous and
more on the soothing side of things. While slightly less dynamic than its predecessors,
Venn’s signature catchiness remains. The song also boasts a killer guitar
groove that you’d have to be dead inside not to love.
The EP closes with “Someone Else”, by far their
longest track (clocking in at just over 6 minutes). The song’s intense intro
sets you up for a rowdy jangle jam, and it is that, but it’s also something of
a slow-burner. The tempo downshifts for the first verse, then ramps up again at
the chorus. “Someone Else” is a rollercoaster ride, running you through a gamut
of emotions that perfectly encapsulates the tumultuousness of the subject
matter. In certain places, the vocals are somewhat reminiscent of Jeff Kandefer
of The Daysleepers – that alone is a magical thing. But comparisons are
boring, and Venn is much more than a sum of comparisons.
Venn’s EP would be impressive for a seasoned group
of musicians with several releases already under their belts. As a debut offering
from musicians so young, it’s absolutely incredible. Venn are as stunning as
they are precocious, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.
