On record VTB offer stark and stunning absurdities in the most bizarrely beautiful way. Recycling and recontextualising their material is an innate habit, and the variety of recording options they might chose (be it a highly equipped professional studio or a second hand dictaphone) allows their craft to be formed in a myriad of different ways. VTB have toured extensively throughout Europe and North America and in concert they are the duo of Daniel Padden and Aaron Moore. Third member, Clarence Manuelo, no longer performs live but his inimitable sounds and influence are still very much a part of a VTB performance. In their unique, often chaotic live shows, the adrenalin and invention drips from their earlobes as they thrust spectacular oddities in the faces of their audiences, always aided by their sublime multi-instrumentalism. Absurd humour and eclectic ways of producing sounds are characteristic of their live performances and their extensive knowledge of the traditions of experimental and folk music makes the band difficult to categorise. The band record everything they play and will often use these recordings as raw material for their albums. VTB have released a number of records since the start, often mixing studio, live and home recordings. Golden Rhythm/Ink Music is their first more or less ”proper” studio album since ”Amidst The Noise And Twigs” back in 2007.
Largely based on the sonic fault-line between Aaron Moore and Daniel Padden, it´s also the most focused and driven of VTB’s prolific output so far, showcasing the duo’s unique musicality and interplay, whilst retaining their trademark eccentricity and humour throughout. It presents “rock music” as seen through VTB’s skewed eye, featuring more of Padden and Moore’s drum/guitar combination than on previous albums. Taking the bizarre energy of their live duo performances into a studio environment, and combining it with VTB’s eclectic instrumentation and Clarence Manuelo’s singular audio-work, GR/IM shows VTB making their most vital work to date.