Velvet Cacoon has been somewhat of an odd ball in the underground music scene since their first, supposedly, non-private release in 2002. Having been accused of stealing material from local Portland artist Korouva, as well as My Violent Ego an Irish shoegaze group, and claiming to have recorded the guitars for Genevieve with a custom made diesel powered guitar that emits sound through water and tracked in various sized aquariums.

Furthermore, the supposed duo that comprises VC may actually only be one person. VC are without a doubt a band shrouded in so much mystery and mystique that no one really knows what is fact and what is fiction. All rumors aside, I had heard of VC a few years ago, and they were described as a mix between shoegaze and black metal. Such an odd mixture sparked immediate intrigue. Do to various circumstances I didn’t manage to get a hold of Genevieve until Southern Lord kindly sent me a promo for the rerelease, and let me tell you. 20 minutes into spinning the album I ordered the double LP of both Genevieve, and their 2005 compilation Northsuite.

Velvet Cacoon claim that all their music is written and recorded under the influence of DXM (the active ingredient in over the counter cough medicine) and in the presence of nature. They claimed that Genevieve was written on a winter’s eve on a boat drifting somewhere off the cost of Oregon. And after 10 seconds into “1”, the opening track, it is abundantly clear, that where or not their claims are true, their hearts are pure.

VC manage to create an impeccably dense and ominous atmosphere evoking images of a raging ocean and piercing winter wind. The songs vary from harsh drum-machine driven black metal (“P.S. Nautical”) to eerie sub-bass drone ambience (“Bete Noire”). SLG’s creepy whispered vocals, although questionably “kvlt”, are perfectly fitting and all but detract from the album’s killer sound and feel.

All elements aside, VC’s strongest suit is writing catchy dark shoegaze riffs and passages to counterbalance with the harsher droning black metal moments (the best examples of this contrast are found on the majestic “Laudanum” and “Avalon Polo”).

All in all, VC are truly a love em’ or hate em’ band. If you are shy away from the experimental and droning extremes of metal, I suggest you avoid Genevieve.
However, if you have even the remotest interest and understanding of the more minimalist and psychedelic corners of black metal give this album a spin, and I assure you, you will be satisfied.