Venus In Furs

A bargain bucket assortment of charity shop chic and toytown riffs, Ciccone are a high velocity charge of delirious pop punk intent. A mangled guitar line, dizzy bass, and a four to the floor combustable drum beat. Boy/girl vocals squabble for air whilst the keyboard player sets off a sample then wanders off stage and dances in the audience. 'We Don't Care', cheerily dismisses a dying relationship whilst, 'Cool Cool Kids', implores teenagers across the country to drop their work and get hammered. Expect them to get the blame next time the Daily Mail finds another "shocking" statistic on underage drinking (what better publicity could you ask for).

If Ciccone are sweaty snogs at the back of a crap nightclub then Venus In Furs are the total opposite, in need of a restaurant and some good conversation before even considering you. Venus In Furs are classy pop, assuming of course that you considered Kenickie to be a classy band. Vocalist, Becky Stefani, is much like Lauren Laverne, all cute smiles and wistful eyes, delivering tales of teen romance whilst nodding to their inevitable stumblings. Songs like, 'Where's My Limo', are more assertive to their destined future, but it's with current single, 'Carnival', they exceed, swooping keyboard lines and irrepressible optimism defining their role as leaders in the anti-neu-metal backlash.