Venus Handcuffs is an archival quality (read poor audio) reissue of material originally recorded in the mid 1980s by the duo of Susanne Lewis and Bob Drake. The promotional material accompanying the CD describes the band as a "cross between Throbbing Gristle and Nick Cave". Avant-garde progressive rock fans should also note that Lewis and Drake got their start in Thinking Plague.
Firmly molded in the artsy New York City underground post-punk scene (although Venus Handcuffs hailed from Denver!) the music conjures visions of seedy cavernous S&M clubs and the most bacchanalian clips from Richard Kern films. The album begins with the track "Venus Handcuffs" and it has a sludgy stoner quality that reminds me as much of Black Sabbath as it does Lydia Lunch. I wish there were a couple more songs in that vein! The album closer "I'll Lead You" nearly approaches symphonic rock territory with some brutal viola work courtesy of Bob Drake: imagine a band linking "Sister Ray" with "Larks Tongues in Aspic". Lewis and Drake play all the instruments here and despite the lo-fi cassette recordings, achieve a surprisingly full sound. "For the Rest of the Day" has some eerie and effective Mellotron choir and tribal drums while shorter pieces like "Haebsibah" and "Bird Fly Out" are short experimental tape loops.
There's some interesting music on display and I'd like to recommend it to the adventurous listener. But the basement sound quality of the material will certainly put many people off. Still, if you have a Gothic fetish, Venus Handcuffs may be right up your alley.
Track Listing
- Venus Handcuffs (4:23)
- Haebsibah (1:57)
- As Though Through Shadows (3:11)
- Fur Man (3:52)
- Birds Fly Out (1:55)
- Dear Dear (4:44)
- Gus Black Box (4:42)
- For the Rest of the Day (5:23)
- Phantom (2:29)
- Rest Home (2:07)
- I'll Lead You (4:00)
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