Ventura – Superheld

Vitesse

Although Swiss melodic post-indie rock trio Ventura has been a unit for the best part of twenty years, this is only their fifth album but what a great discovery for these ears.

Using the power of the guitar/bass/drums line-up, they cue up ten strong yet diverse tracks on Superheld that run from the slow strength of “Bubbles” to the rhythmically awkward “Advertiser”, passing through all manner of other stylings to keep the listener constantly engaged.

Diego Göhring‘s bass has a warm, aged sound, dry and mellow and along with Grégoire Quartier‘s tight drums drags the overblown sandstorm guitar of opener “Dwell” into the light. The bass is keen to hold the melody as Philippe Henchoz‘s calmly observant vocals move through the waves. “It is in your interest to fail” is an interesting observation and considering English is the trio’s second language, the grasp of vernacular and phraseology is perfect.

The rhythm of “Advertiser” is slightly awkward, but not such that it wants to alienate. They are able to keep the listener on their toes with these subtle shifts, but also want to keep them on side; although they are not afraid to throw some volume and distortion into the mix just for a brief ear scouring.

I was interested to see that in 2010 they released a record with David Yow and it is obvious that they have listened to some of the heavier US indie rock that was around in the late eighties and early nineties, but have re-purposed it for their own uses with warm bass chords, a textured tumble of drums and repetitive mantras popping up all over. One of the press shots has them in band T-shirts, Dinosaur Jr and Shellac featuring, and it is this era and style of music that is their much-modified blueprint.

Ventura understand the need for repetition, but the songs are relatively short so they break the circle early, while some others do move through distinct phases. Hints of Codeine and the For Carnation appear in the slow, sepulchral “Bubbles”, while one of the other bands that I couldn’t help hearing was Minneapolis’s Arcwelder. Something about the measured vocal tones and the effortless, shapeshifting strength really shone through, but Ventura are more erratic, more willing to take a chance on something unexpected and for that they can’t be faulted.

They can really mix things up over a three-minute song if they want to and I was intrigued to hear an almost post-metal surge in the heavy riffing of “Optimistic”. After all this switchback activity and building and releasing of pressure, the final track “From Evil” seems to drop any bravado and really opens its heart to the listener. You can sense the soul of the group peering through here as the slow, sad rhythm offers itself to you.

Superheld is a really strong set of songs from another new European discovery. It takes a familiar template but picks it apart to suit its own agenda and that can only be a good thing. Out on vinyl, CD and digital, it is an album that delivers on every listen.

-Mr Olivetti-