The last time we checked in with Violens, the group had just played their first live show and made available an unmastered version of their psychedelic pop gem “Violent Sensation Descends.” The New York-based five-piece consisting of keyboardist Iddo Arad, bassist Ben Brantley, Jorge Elbrecht on vocals/lead guitar, Jay Israelson, and drummer Kris King has just dropped the mastered edition of the song and are kicking off a tour supporting Montreal’s Handsome Furs. The band also has a couple of new tracks up on their MySpace page including the ringing and melodic “Spectator and Pupil” along with “Circles Intertwine.” The Handsome Furs/Violens tour hits Philadelphia on April 4th at North Star Bar and New York on April 6th. Full dates below.
Here’s what we had to say about “Violent Sensation Descends”
“Violent Sensation Descends” begins with a dark, almost haunting psychedelic swirl before breaking into warm, jangly, sunny psych-pop. Warm harmonies and delectable melodies are book-ended by another delve into dark psych whirl. It’s like being tossed around in an ocean of dark waves before they spit you out onto a sunny beach. By the time you stand up to dust the sand off of yourself and let your eyes adjust to the bright sun (and begin to enjoy it), the waves reach out and drag you back into the swirling eddies and crashing waves.
[MP3]: Violens ”Violent Sensation Descends”
Single, Static Recital; 2008
Violens Tour Dates supporting Handsome Furs
3/27/08 PS 14 - Miami, FL
3/28/08 Respectable Street - West Palm Beach, FL
3/29/08 Cafe Eleven - St Augustine, FL
3/30/08 The Social - Orlando, FL
3/31/08 Common Grounds - Gainesville, FL
4/1/08 Village Tavern - Mt Pleasant, SC
4/2/08 Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC
4/3/08 Satellite Ballroom - Charlottesville, VA
4/4/08 North Star Bar - Philadelphia, PA
4/6/08 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY