Delta of Venus are a spellbinding force from Mystic, Connecticut, swirling in a dream-fog of shoegaze, indie pop, and unorthodox structure. I first welcomed them to this space with their spellbinding debut, “Disengaged b/w Slipping”, and I knew then we were witnessing something rare. Now, they return with “Intertwined b/w Intertwined (acoustic)”, a daring double-vision of the same track—equal parts haze and hush, both emotionally rich and structurally transfixing.
The Song: “Intertwined”
The electric version of “Intertwined” begins not with a bang, but with a question: “Where are they flying to. I don’t see how this ends in any way.” It’s the kind of opening line that chills the air, not because of what’s said, but because of what’s implied. From the first moments, Issy’s voice feels ghostly and intimate, floating atop a wash of shimmering guitars and reverberated atmosphere. Her delivery is soft but knowing as if she’s not just singing to someone but with the collective ache of the world.
The production, handled by Ellery Twining alongside Eric Lichter, is lush and vast. Guido Falviere’s engineering ensures that nothing feels muddy—every layer breathes. The guitar tones are soaked in delay and chorus, forming wide-open soundscapes that expand with each phrase. Mat Tarbox’s bass hums beneath like a slow heartbeat, grounding the drift.
And then, that lyric again, anchoring the emotional weight: “And lay your hand down on my still chest / As it beats for everyone I’ve never met.” This moment is the axis of the track; the heart of it all. It’s an offering of universal empathy in an age where connection feels fragmented. The repetition of “Look at that. Do you feel it” feels like a challenge and a plea—calling you into awareness and care.
The Acoustic Version
What began as a throwaway joke in rehearsal became the most human expression this band has given us yet. Acoustic shoegaze might sound like an oxymoron, but in Delta of Venus’ hands, it becomes a revelation. Stripped of the electric fog, the acoustic take exposes the bones of the song—and those bones are beautiful. Ellery’s acoustic guitar: chosen from his personal collection plays softly, but it doesn’t strum like a folk song. It circles, floats, and reverberates. There’s a spatiality here, a sense of space between notes that lets the lyrics breathe even deeper. Issy’s vocals take on a whole new character: closer, warmer, tinged with even more fragility and reverence. Her voice creaks in places, as if she’s holding back tears.
If the electric version is an ocean in motion, the acoustic is a still lake at dusk; equally reflective, equally vast, but haunting in its silence. You hear every breath, every shift of the fingers, every syllable delivered like a thread in an unseen tapestry. This version brings the lyric “Sit with me in the waiting room. While I show you how the world is intertwined” to a whole new plane; inviting not just to watch, but to stay, feel, and witness.
What makes “Intertwined” so powerful—both versions—isn’t just the refusal to conform, but the way it manages to be personal and political, spiritual and sonic. This is music that doesn’t just describe emotion; it is emotion. It orbits, and in that orbit, it draws you into its gravity. Delta of Venus continue to evolve in thrilling ways. From their Mystic roots to Dirt Floor Recording’s sacred studio soil, this quartet is carving out their own blueprint for what shoegaze, indie, and sonic storytelling can be. If “Disengaged” was the band opening a door, “Intertwined” is them building a cathedral.
So, sit with them in the waiting room. Let their music show you how everything, and everyone, is connected. Even the ones you’ve never met. Especially them.
Listen to “Intertwined b/w Intertwined (acoustic)” on Spotify
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