Weekend Supplement 2: Velvet Stream ~ The Honeymoon Period

There are some acts I could write about all the live long day. Ed Drewett. Asher Monroe. Scarlett's Roses. And of course the rather wonderful indeed Velvet Stream. And it's Velvet Stream I'm revisiting today and their rather lovely song entitled The Honeymoon Period. I'm chagrinned that this is over a year old and somehow completely passed me by, but I've done my time on the naughty step and am ready to shout it out to the world about the wonders of this simply beautiful tune. Let's start with a fact - Velvet Stream work so well as a group because they sound like nothing on the radio at the moment. As EDM tunes reach saturation point, Velvet Stream simply concentrate on providing music that is heavy on melody, filled with clever/insightful/heartbreaking lyrics, has an addictive edge to the instrumental that involves it fully in the story the words tell and imbue each moment with personality, flair and heart. In short, there is no one second of Velvet Stream music that does not have them pouring into it every ounce of passion & enthusiasm for what they do; each member of the band is an integral part of the machine and the music - whether it be uptempo or downbeat - radiates because of this. While current single Bitch (see here) is a testament to their vivacious brand of quirky, uptempo & insanely catchy pop, The Honeymoon Period embraces introspection, wistful memories and elegiac realisation. Lyrically it's the tale of the end of the beginning of a relationship - when that initial frenzy of passion starts to subside, when the excitement gives way to stark reality & when one or both realise that there perhaps isn't enough to sustain the affair much longer. Ergo, it's actually an incredibly sweet and incredibly sad song that is delivered with such exquisite honesty that you feel like you are eavesdropping on a private conversation. Mati delivers an incredibly nuanced and passionate vocal - when her voice gives vibrato it will break your heart. It genuinely stops you in your tracks as the world fades away & you're blinded by it's beauty. Also - i don't know if the staging of where everyone in the band sits was done on purpose or not, but the fact that Mati is at the side singing rather than upfront & centre gives the song an added vulnerability and tenderness that really enhances the lyrics. Elsewhere, the strumming guitars keep a peppy pace and complement each other tremendously - it gives the music texture and vibrancy that prevents the song from becoming maudlin; indeed, it's the guitars and those ethereal, impeccable keyboard riffs that make the celebratory moments within the lyrics sparkle that much brighter. Add in the boys melancholy but truly heavenly harmonies and there is no part of this song that doesn't engage you completely from start to finish. Other moments of note include (all members, but in particular Ant and Dan) manifestations of sheer exuberance within the performance at the joy of being able to perform; oh and handclaps? Are you fucking kidding me? I've died and gone to pop heaven :) The honeymoon period may be over, but this is one pop commitment I've made for life.