Album Review: TVP - The Ventura Project

Image via Rosieee Photography

If you read their MySpace page, you’ll learn that The Ventura Project is a long-distance collaboration between a singer/electronic instrumentalist from the UK and a bass player from Long Island. It almost sounds like an Internet dating commercial, but is it a musical match made in heaven? They recently released their new album TVP, and it’s an interesting piece of electronic pop that’s worth a listen.

As the old saying goes, there’s beauty in simplicity. And TVP isn’t exactly trying to tug at your heartstrings or blow you away with instrumental pyrotechnics. It’s pretty much straightforward light pop featuring a standard package of drums, guitar and piano laced with electronic synths and riffs that don’t even pretend to sound like anything real. When I press play, I feel like I’m listening to a blend of soft rock, good karaoke and 16-bit video game music (with strong Mario Paint influences). Coupled with the steady and pleasant British female vocals, it’s a clean, pristine, and polite package.

Overall, I give TVP a 3.5 out of 5. It’s understated, and it doesn’t exactly grab a hold of you right away. But it’s relaxing to listen to, and it put me in a good mood for reasons I still don’t fully understand.

You can download it for free (or for a small donation) at TheVenturaProject.com.