With “Intertwined b/w Intertwined (acoustic),” Delta of Venus deepens their exploration of sonic duality, proving their willingness to embrace shoegaze tradition and reinvent. Following the well-received debut of “Disengaged b/w Slipping,” this second release expands their creative palette by offering two radically different interpretations of the same song. One version is wrapped in layers of reverb and noise, the other pared down to its skeletal, emotional core. This release continues their story and rewrites their trajectory with daring confidence.
The full-band take on “Intertwined” envelops the listener in waves of textured guitar, atmospheric rhythm, and melancholy-laced vocals. It’s an immersive experience, almost cinematic in its emotional breadth. The band crafts a dreamlike momentum, where the instruments accompany lyrics and converse with them. Themes of quiet empathy, human fragility, and the invisible bonds between strangers swirl through the lyrics, echoing in the ever-shifting sonic layers. There’s a tension between chaos and clarity that holds your attention like a spell.
Surprisingly, the track’s acoustic counterpart wasn’t born from meticulous planning, but from a passing joke by bassist Mat Tarbox. Yet it bloomed into something poignant and beautifully unexpected. Guitarist Ellery Twining dusted off an old acoustic guitar, and with that simple gesture, an alternate universe of the song began to unfold. Gone are the walls of distortion—in their place, raw strumming, tender inflexions, and a mood that feels more like a confession than a composition. It’s stripped, honest, and quietly arresting.
This unplugged version unveils a side of Delta of Venus rarely exposed in shoegaze circles: lyrical vulnerability laid bare. Without the fog of effects, the craftsmanship behind the writing shines through. The melodies feel more pronounced, and the message, more personal. It offers a new intimacy that reframes the song entirely—less a vast soundscape, more a private moment shared. Where the original version reaches out into the world, the acoustic draws you inward, making the same song feel like a completely different emotional journey.
By releasing renditions together, Delta of Venus demonstrate versatility and redefines what it means to build atmosphere. Rather than settling into the comfort of genre tropes, they fracture them and rebuild with care and curiosity. “Intertwined b/w Intertwined (acoustic)” is a compelling portrait of contrast: distortion and restraint, distance and closeness, fire and aftermath. It’s a release that invites repeated listens, each revealing a new layer, and confirms that this band is finding their voice and building an entire language of its own.
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