Oceans of Venus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Oceans Of Venus | ||
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| Studio album by Rachel Stamp | ||
| Released | May 13, 2002 | |
| Recorded | Between 2001 and 2002 | |
| Genre | Alternative Rock/Glam Rock | |
| Length | 49:42 | |
| Label | Pure Stirling Records | |
| Producer(s) | Rachel Stamp, Rodger Tebutt | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Rachel Stamp chronology | ||
| Hymns For Strange Children (2000) |
Oceans Of Venus (2002) |
Sweet Shop (2004) |
Oceans Of Venus is the second album from London based glam rockers, Rachel Stamp.
"Oceans of Venus.....the most brilliant rock record to come out of the UK in ages" Bob Ezrin, Producer (Jane's Addiction, KISS, Pink Floyd).
Rock Sound: "the best British guitar album since The Bends"
The Independent on Sunday: "an addictive antidote to sexless nu-metal posturing"
Contents |
[edit] Overview
"Oceans Of Venus" was released in 2002 on Pure Stirling Records. Proceeded by Rachel Stamp's highest charting single to date, "Black Cherry", the album was met with critical acclaim from the music press and some mixed feelings from fans that wanted an album similar to the raw, glam pop of the debut, "Hymns For Strange Children". Despite the mixed reaction from some of the fanbase, "Oceans of Venus" is rightly regarded as Rachel Stamp's finest work to date. Produced by Rodger Tebutt and Rachel Stamp, "Oceans Of Venus" is an energetic, complex, heart-soaked beast of an album, displaying a darker, even more hard-hitting band that fly into the face of fashion and wave its genitalia proudly in its face. The album has also been released in Germany (through Sony Music) and in the United States Of America (through Captiva Records/Underground Inc). "Oceans Of Venus" has sold over 25,000 copies in the UK alone.
[edit] THE ALBUM (UK & US VERSIONS)
Released May 13, 2002
(CD SML 500)
[edit] UK Tracklisting
- Starbirth in the Triffid Nebula
- Les Oceans Dé Venus
- Black Cherry
- Witches Of Ängelhölm
- Do Me In Once And I’ll Be Sad, Do Me In Twice And I’ll Know Better
- Superstars Of Heartache
- The Agony Of St. Teresa
- Permanent Damage
- Twisted
- Crucified
- The Loveless
- Victory
[edit] Facts
- Produced by Rodger Tebutt and Rachel Stamp
- Mixed by Rodger Tebbutt
- Cover photo by Paul Harries. Retouching by Joe at Genesis
- Sleeve design by Jules at Vegas Design
- Inner photos by Heike Schneider-Matzigkeit
[edit] Limited Edition Version (US Only)
Released March 18th 2003
(CRO301)
[edit] Limited Edition Tracklisting
- Starbirth in the Triffid Nebula
- Les Oceans Dé Venus
- Black Cherry
- Witches Of Ängelhölm
- Heroine
- Do Me In Once And I’ll Be Sad, Do Me In Twice And I’ll Know Better (New Album Mix)
- Superstars Of Heartache
- The Agony Of St. Teresa
- My Sweet Rose ("Hymns For Strange Children" Version)
- Permanent Damage
- Twisted
- Crucified
- The Loveless
- Victory
- Do Me In Once And I’ll Be Sad, Do Me In Twice And I’ll Know Better (Radio Edit)
- Black Cherry (Radio Edit)
[edit] Facts
- Limited Edition release of "Oceans Of Venus" through Captiva Records
- Features 4 bonus tracks - "Heroine" (from the unreleased WEA album, "Fight The Force Of Evil"), "My Sweet Rose" (from "Hymns For Strange Children" & two rare radio edits of "Do Me In..." & "Black Cherry".
- Produced by Rodger Tebbutt and Rachel Stamp (except "My Sweet Rose" - Produced by John Fryer)
- Mixed by Rodger Tebutt
- Features new artwork by Jimmy B.
- Inner photos by Heike Schneider-Matzigkeit
[edit] US Version
Released October 21, 2003
(UIN 1079)
[edit] US Tracklisting
- Starbirth in the Triffid Nebula
- Les Oceans Dé Venus
- Black Cherry
- Witches Of Ängelhölm
- Do Me In Once And I’ll Be Sad, Do Me In Twice And I’ll Know Better (New Album Mix)
- Superstars Of Heartache
- The Agony Of St. Teresa
- Permanent Damage
- Twisted
- Crucified
- The Loveless
- Victory
[edit] Facts
- Released through Underground Inc./Captiva and distributed across America by Caroline Records.
- Originally planned to be a re-release of the UK edition with the same artwork as the Limited Edition version. Brand new artwork was drawn up from scratch by Vania Zouravilov and David Ryder-Prangley due to another artist using similar artwork.
- The tracks that had previously been added to “Oceans Of Venus” were removed for this version as “it was not the album we had made, and although "My Sweet Rose" and "Heroine" are fabulous songs (which is why they were added), the album is only proper without.” – David Ryder-Prangley, 2003
- Produced by Rodger Tebbutt and Rachel Stamp
- Mixed by Rodger Tebutt
- Inner photos by Heike Schneider-Matzigkeit
- Lettering by Davina
[edit] Reviews
[edit] Drowned In Sound
by Alex Wisgard
"...combines the best moments of Kiss and AC/DC into one storming epic..."
Extra, extra! Read all about it: Britain's hardest working perverted purveyors of pure poodle pop power take a gothic prog rock concept album excursion!
That's right, kids, after seven years, two albums (including one live album, 'Stampax') and too many record contracts to think about, David Ryder-Prangley and the Rachel Stamp gang have made the difficult second studio album. There's no 'Hey Hey Michael...' or 'Spank' here, oh no; it's more 'Dark Side Of The Moon' than 'Monsters Of The New Wave'.
It starts off quite delicately, with 'Starbirth In The Triffid Nebula', an acousticy piano tune, with a driving,doom-laden, relentless outro, which sets the tone for the rest of the album. 'Black Cherry' combines the best moments of Kiss and AC/DC into one storming epic, while old song 'Superstars Of Heartache' has been given a glossier coating. There is definitely lots of Prog afoot in tracks such as 'Starbirth...' and 'The Loveless', a duet with the Mediaeval Baebes singer Katharine Blake, billed as taken from the musical 'Twenty-five Days Of Hell' (a line in 'Monsters...') - a proggy duet about lost love, which scares many crowds live.
Those longing for the Rachel Stamp of old, do not fear - there are still a few anthems to keep you going. 'Do Me In Once And I'll Be Sad, Do Me In Twice And I'll Know Better' is the poppiest thing the band have ever done, 'Twisted' is 'Brand New Toy on amphetamine, while 'Permanent Damage' bounces along with glockenspiels-and-synths-a-go-go.
So, kids, what have we learnt from all this? Is a change of direction a good thing, or just embarrassing on the permanent record? For Rachel Stamp, 'tis the former, and I give you one piece of advice with this album: as the last track ends, press 'play' again. You won't regret it.
[edit] Xfm
"...muscular riffs, real hooks, and rude words."
In a world populated by skatepunk pseudo-metal and frat boy fart-lighters Rachel Stamp are indeed a tonic.
Older and wiser than many of their peers, this sex-Glam four-piece have used their influences to make a record that eschews the vagaries of the charts to deliver a classic rock masterclass. The journey through those influences is a scenic one indeed, taking in Faith No More on the cinematic opener 'Starbirth In The Triffid Nebula', through decadent early 70s Bowie and Bolan, picking up a Motorhead riff to great effect on the single 'Black Cherry' before breathlessly closing on the affecting Mansun-esque finisher 'Victory'. There are moments that miss the mark, particularly the rock folly of 'The Loveless' which can't even be saved by the line "Stay here in my bed/Just ignore the stains," but the riffs and melodies are mostly excellent, carried throughout by David Ryder-Prangley's Paul Draper-style vocal.
'Oceans Of Venus' contains everything a proper rock record should: muscular riffs, real hooks and rude words.
Let Rachel Stamp on your stereo, you won't regret it.
=== Dixie Tucker === by Sarah Krayons
"....Rachel Stamp ...pulling off a rock'n'roll masterpiece..."
Bad Love Sounds Good on Oceans Of Venus (4/28/03) Rachel Stamp Oceans of Venus (Captiva/ Pure Stirling) Blame it on Bowie. He's responsible for all the glam bands with the 'fell to Earth from space' theme. And don't think Rachel Stamp is any exception, they just tumbled out of the Triffid Nebula. But don't go thinking they're copycats either. An epic first effort, Oceans of Venus is excess to a tee. Musical excess. Poetic Excess. License to borrow has been thrown out in favor of pillaging grand works of the past. Cat-like gasps, soulful bellowing, and weighty guitars aid Rachel Stamp in pulling off a rock'n'roll masterpiece that covers all the required territory and then some. There's some poppy fare here. "Do Me In Once" is pure bubblegum that flows nicely between verse and chorus. Title Song 'Les Oceans de Venus" is a warp speed excursion through bloody love. Strong riffs and decadent refrains push this song beyond standard rock phrasing. If any song stands out, it is this one. It's wild, it's fast, and it fits the conceptual schema Rachel Stamp is going for without crossing the line into art for arts sake. Crescendo-like backing vocals add flair and punch in operatic measures and keyboards (courtesy of Shaheena Dax) give the album the feel of listening to something grander than a rock record. But a rock record it is and David Ryder-Prangly's snarls and whispers ground the celestial ambitions of Oceans of Venus in old-fashioned greasy sleaze. Complaints? There's the obligatory drug reference masked as a love interest song that isn't cloaked nearly enough to pull off. "Heroine" is what is seems, and the album would fare better without this clunker. While songs like "Black Cherry" and "Permanent Damage" suggest dirt and power through their delivery, the transparency of "Heroine" devalues the hard work that comprises the majority of songs on this album. For all the originality Rachel Stamp achieves on Oceans of Venus, the resort to such an obvious ploy is an insult to their musical intelligence. Luckily the album stands up well enough on its own to not be marred too deeply by one song. Don't be scared off by the Journey-esque album cover - the schmaltz here adds to the experience. And besides Rachel Stamp is capable of handling the nervous jolts on their own. A thoroughly deep exploration, Oceans of Venus succeeds in conquering all territories - musically, topically, and image wise it's all together. Finally a band who can put the package together, Rachel Stamp takes decided chances others are unwilling to pursue. And after listening to Oceans of Venus, it's obvious the odds were stacked in their favor all along. The time has come to walk the walk, and Rachel Stamp saunters and stirs with confidence.
[edit] Organ Magazine
" We needed a killer album, we got it."
Oceans of Venus Organ Magazine We needed a killer album, we got it. Up until now, the very best Rachel Stamp recordings were to be found way back on the original scratchy lo-fi demo tape that caused all the initial interest in the first place - that is, until the metallic KO of second track "Les Oceans des Venus" changed everything. Until the moment when that second track kicked in in such a forceful demanding way Rachel Stamp had failed to really really truly deliver - sure their records have been good, there's been great moments, but until that second track kicked in and nailed it right up there we've all had our nagging doubts... Rachel Stamp at last have made that slightly crazed killer of an album to back up all the great gigs and all the glitter chaos. Black Cherry is the best Kiss song ever - nailed-on confronational and completely and utterly in your face, smudging your make up and pushing you down in the gutter. This is razor sharp, stiletto sharp - just the right trashy cocktail of 70s biting glam sleaze, 21st century hard edged modern sounding metal and just that hint of knife twisting back-stabbing pop. Don't get the idea that it's all throwaway either, there's depth in their shallowness this time. David knows he's a cliché, he delights in it; Will Crewdson still wants to be in Warrior Soul; Shaheena drips all the glitter dust and extra colour with her fizzing keyboards and synths; Robin 'best drummer in England' Guy glues it all together. Permanent Damage is Cheap Trick, Twisted is just that: deranged, firestarting, cheap and nasty stomping punkoid romo-glam. Metallic S&M chic, glorious outragious cliché after cliché, sleeping with the angels, waking up with the living dead - infectious (almost gothic) pop metal flamboyance that Marilyn would kill for... Rachel Stamp finally did the lot, the antidote to all that pseudo angst and fake dysfunction that's cluttering up rock... yeah - it's good, they did it at last.
[edit] Independent On Sunday
by Simon Price
"An addictive antidote to sexless nu-metal posturing."
DIY GLAM METAL: Independent on Sunday Oceans of Venus (Pure Stirling) Welsh/English/Canadian glam-metal monsters defy all music biz logic. Masticated and regurgitated by the major label machine some years ago, diminutive frontman David Ryder-Prangley decided not to crawl under a rock and die, and instead took his band the DIY route. Rachel Stamp are now the focal point of the New Glam Underground. They specialise in unashamedly Old metal kicks and Oceans of Venus, their self-released second album is a glorious Kiss/Crue/T Rex/Prince collision, executed with a devilishly dirty mind and exquisitely bitchy wit. An addictive antidote to sexless nu-metal posturing.
