Split decision

>> Two cities, two brothers, To Bed With Venus

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Sometimes less is more, and sometimes it's simply more to the point. Take the case of To Bed With Venus. A brief history: the band started here in Montreal as Tulip, with the Philippi brothers (Nick on bass and Dan on drums) joined by singer Cheryl Sim. Tulip ultimately split, Sim going the way of Gazelle and the Philippis essaying assorted all-male trio setups, adopting their current moniker.

Hooking up with guitarist Nick St. Aubin, they relocated eight months ago to Toronto, sitting on a new full-length CD called Efemmeral. "It's been a good experience, for sure," Dan tells me from a 416 number. "The biggest reason is, it was good to get out of Montreal and start fresh on the music. We were getting a little stale--after four years, you get a little lazy."

"It's pretty amazing what we've accomplished in the last eight months, in terms of the music. We came down with St. Aubin, and the way things worked out is that we went in different directions upon arrival. My brother and I sat down and said, 'Let's concentrate on putting together something that the two of us really feel is what we want to do.' We can really accomplish a lot, the two of us--we've always almost felt trapped in needing someone else to come in and make music with us."

St. Aubin's legacy can be heard on Efemmeral, due for belated launching this week. The suggestion of obsolescence in the title takes on new meaning now that he's gone and TBWV are finally a duo. "That was a pop-rock album, with guitar and keyboards. We're focusing now entirely on drums and bass, with maybe some ambient keyboards to fill out some of the spaces. It's got a very Euro sound, I think, very British. It's definitely not rock 'n' roll anymore."

So no more hints of metal riffage, as contained in tune "Red Goddess"? "That's what happens when you invite someone into the picture--people were telling us, 'You're missing this, you're missing that.' We bit, we took the bait and gave him free reign with the whole CD. I think it sounds good, but it's not what we want to do now."

Although the brothers intend to bounce back and forth, establishing a dual base in both cities, they're sitting tight in T.O., at least until summer. Now, every confirmed Montrealer wants to hear that something, anything, is left wanting in Toronto. The Philippis had a basement space on the Main which was combination jam room/showhall/living room--and have yet to find anything comparable. "It was totally unique. Unfortunately, we're now in with the masses. We're paying local rent at one of these big studio places. It's kind of a drag, man. Too much noise--bands on either side, above and below. It's crazy. What we had in Montreal was an exceptional situation." :

CD launch at L'Air du Temps on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 23 and 24, 10pm