→ ↑ → – Venitian Rendezvous [7''] (1979, Innocent)

'Venitian Rendezvous' was a live → ↑ → project. Focused on notions of the industrialization of Muzak, the sociological radiophonics of Easy Listening and the aesthetic categorization of 'beautiful music', the project saw → ↑ → live the dream of such ideals by becoming a respectable, suited, tamed and innocuous ensemble playing suitably neutered music. In the face of Minimalism's increasing chauvinism and Punk's escalating heroicism, 'Venitian Rendezvous' was the sound of bland conservatism musicalised. It dived deep into the Muzak ethos wherein identity was denounced. For → ↑ →, Muzak's emotive/expressive lack was a populist keystone for imaging art that moved beyond humancentric foibles. 

Some of the songs were initially developed for the 'Caprice' project; other songs also appeared in the more severe Minimalism set. Live performances of 'Venitian Rendezvous' entailed the quartet dressed in sober yet colourful unstylish office worker suits-and-ties. The music was correspondingly tasteful. The only cover version was what composer Philip Brophy thought had to be the most innocuous and facile 'evergreen' at that moment in the late 70s: The Beatles' "Hey Jude". All the song titles were in Italian (courtesy of key → ↑ → members Ralph Traviato and Anthony Montemurro). The second edition of  'Venetian Rendezvous' was a repress released in May 31, 1979 in an edition of 500 with a different cover. [SOURCE: PHILIP BROPHY]

 

 

Label: Innocent – none 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, White Label 

Country: Australia 

Released: Apr 12, 1979 

Style: New Wave, Art Rock, Minimal, Experimental, Minimal Wave

 

Tracklist:

A1 Lampadina 

A2 Pallini 

B1 Sportelio 

B2 Canzona Di Una Notta 

 

Notes: 

There are no catalogue numbers for Innocent releases #1-5+7. This is the 1st label release according to official Innocent 1981 Catalogue: *(7" 33⅓ EP) ed:300 rel:12.4.79 

"Four songs that recreate the enigma of Muzak. Music in the seductive (sic) vein." 

 

Liner notes: 

music for anything that goes anywhere 

nothing music with nowhere to go. 

complacent and seductive production by John & Chris. 

recorded etc. February 79 

first performed Nov.78 

live performances available 

N.B. all songs are abridged.

 

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