The album was recorded and mixed by Venus Ray and Mark Lusardi at Negative and Mark Angelo's studios on the customary range of redundant contraptions and shady equipment. Recording took place throughout 2002 until the tragic death of drummer Steve Smith.

After several months when further work seemed too painful, the surviving members reconvened to complete the tracks that became The World Woke Up Without Me. A huge stack of material that seemed inappropriate or too raw to complete remains in the can with no immediate plans for its release.


Tk 1. Melody
The album kicks off with a bass rumble reminiscent of PiL's Metal Box (which Mark Lusardi engineered many moons ago) before interlocking guitars and the Grampian Ambiophonic 666 lift us off into a strange orbit of colliding debris. 'Melody brings Harmony' indeed.

Tk 2. Hurricane
The first single from the album is two and a bit minutes of infectious garage rock, featuring Rob on Nutbush synthesizer.

Tk 3. It's All Gone Wrong
Tony takes the vocals with a tale of apocalyptic wonder. Builds to a surging climax sounding a bit like the Flaming Lips drowning in a cave filled with bat guano.

Tk 4. Gullybank Rock
Seems to be a song about insects. Rob takes to the drums, Barney on violin, Dig on flute. 'Kawa-Haile is alive', obviously.

Tk 5. Propellor Plane
Threatened by a malfunctioning tape echo, Venus Ray fade in and out of tune over Steve's evaporating drum rolls.

Tk 6. Electric Guitar
Side two of the LP starts with Diggory's account of getting up, falling down and making a lonely racket. Great guitar solo.

Tk 7. Falling Star
Another existential tale of interstellar angst, co-written by Tony and Rob. Steve batters the Ludwig drums to the pulse of a Japanese synth.

Tk 8. Downtime
A tougher, rocking tune - sounds like a totally live take until a chorus of slide guitars jump in to do battle with a toy piano.

Tk 9. Sunglasses
Under a simple song, a wash of mournful piano, complete with eerie guitars and Spector-ish drums.

Tk 10. Tested On Sharks
No idea what this one's about, but Tony sings it with love and conviction. By the end the World and his lobster seem to have joined in on everything including the kitchen sink. The album plays out to rippling aftershocks.


A daily selection of these and other Venus Ray tracks are now playable on the Venus Ray Reel to Reel

Click here to see the Press Release for the album.

Click here to for a selection of critic's responses.



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