Strike Gently by The Virgins

 8/10 
 Rated:Music is my Radar 

After 5 years from their debut album The Virgins are finally back and with the same enchanting concept but more mature. Althought Donald Cumming ,vocalist, is the only original member, apparently,the style stills the same.

A little less Pop and a bit more rough is the key the album has to be the complement to previous album and to keep the joy that caracteriza the band.'Prima Materia' the first track in the album has plenty of what you are about to hear, vintage beats, rock and roll,dance punk and lots of fun.Is a dose of old school amusement à la mixtape, with unexpected things but on the same line and taste, resembles first album but with a more grown up style that at some moments gets sad-ish ,specially at the end, but preserve a entertaining melody in a more ironical mood like in 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Amelia' .

Fast and soft tracks make the album have a punk/rock sensation but not savage, it's more a love, peace,pleasant sound but doesn't take off the fun because it has the perfect amount of decontrol and craziness. Gleams of 80's bands like The Police,even from Wham!, and influenced by jazz the tunes acquired a breezy relaxing sound,for example 'Impressions of You' and 'Travel Express (From Me)', which is accompanied with powerful memorable guitar riffs and all  fits so well because it has tiny bits of everything at the right time.

So many will talk more about the record label they signed for, Cult Records,Julian Casblancas, The strokes etc. but record talk itself and that not created a mayor effect on the style. In a very party spirit,mostly,listen 'What Good is Moonlight', the album takes a slightly different direction than the single released last year 'Venus in Chains',sadly not included, the band show a sort of California alter-ego, but without leaving the New York essence aside.

Recommend: Prima Materia;Flashbacks, Memories, and Dreams;Figure on the Ice;What Good is Moonlight,The Beggar

[Single] Venus in Chains - The Virgins

Single
8.5/10


After a 4 year hiatus The Virgins are back with the first official track from upcoming 7" single entitled "Venus in Chains" (out on May 26th). The Song is inspired by godlike feminist visual artists, therefore the name.It sounds fantastic and is so enjoyable reminds me a bit of not mainstream rock from late 90's [no names come to head now]. Anyway the song feel like something new for nowadays music, very cool and is a song you wish and it could be longer cause it goes growing and growing but then is over. The band still have the gist even they are not the same members but apparently Donald Cumming knows how to deal with it and give the right direction to the band. The track is lovable and addict-able definitely a teaser to what is coming, an album later this year. Only wishing 'Island Girl', a track released earlier this year, comes with the single because that track is absolutely brilliant as well. So glad that The Virgins finally are back and with fantastic music, now looking forward to a full album.



From http://www.vice.com/read/vice-premieres-venus-in-chains-by-the-virgins: