Caseman (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} caseman984) wrote,@ 2009-05-10 17:50:00 |
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Reformation 01 First Impressions
Reformation, the much-anticipated Matter + Form/Judgement remix and b-sides album is out this Tuesday, with a live performance DVD, all for $17.99. It's kind of strange to review a remix album, but here goes.
First song is a Modcom remix of Chrome from Matter + Form. Its very Dance Floor. Heavier beat and re-imagined synth line. Less lyrics, more repetition. Not much more to say, a simple but fun song.
Next up is the SITD remix of Chrome, an altogether different song from the first. Containing the entire lyrical content, with a wide synth soundscape. It's reminiscent of Seabound, very epic. Listen for the breakdown after the first Chorus. Excellent track.
Finally there's the Apop remix, which sounds very much like a modern Apop song. It's up to you whether or not that's a good thing. Apprently the vocal effects on Ronan's voice wasn't "Chrome" enough, so now its been put through a metallic blender. Thankfully, it's the shortest of the three.
Starting out the next round of remixes is the ABM version of Interceptor. Everything an instrumental remix should be, it plays with the original sounds and structure enough so that it stands on its own, but is instantly recognizable. It doesn't carry the same cinematic qualities as the original, with a harsher, more industrial feel.
Following that is SAM's remix of Nemesis. SAM will be accompanying VNV for their North American tour this year. They're much more EBM, in the vein of Combichrist and God Module, and this track is no exception. SAM Manages to make an already passionately angry song sound downright pissed off. Very fast, very hard, very loud. All in less then 4 minutes.
Frozen Plasma takes the reins for the next track, remixing Carry You. Already one of the strongest tracks in recent VNV Nation history, Frozen Plasma captures the feel of the original track , while giving it a much colder, simpler sound. It loses much of the majestic feel of the original that made it so great, but makes it more of a dancefloor track.
The last of the remixes is As it Fades 2nd Movement. Based on the last track of Judgement, it's more of a follow-up then a remix. Featuring full lyrics (the original is an instrumental) and a much more in-your-face sound. The lyrics follow the same theme as Judgement, the picture of a world on the edge of turmoil, a world in much need of change. The track culminates with a very strong, very uplifting end, much like Neverending Light from Matter + Form.
The first of the unreleased tracks is Still Waters. It hardly sounds like a VNV Nation song at all until about a minute in. A very minimalist intro leads to a Matter + Form-esque rolling bassline. A full two minutes into the track, Ronan begins singing to the deepest and darkest parts of us. The suffering child, the lonely man. "Close your eyes.... Here you have strength... you don't have to live in pain." Continuing the theme of strength in adversity present in much of their music, Ronan reminds us of the power of silence.
Precipice is a song about forgiving yourself and moving forward. It sounds like it would be right at home on Judgement, a thumping bassline, strong synthline, good structure. A danceable track with a message. Its hard to see why this was cut from the lineup, very strong track.
Suffer carries us out of the three unreleased tracks with an angelic chorus over sweeping strings, No lyrics, no percussion, just sweet song and music. Without a word, Ronan and Mark portray the sense of hope present in all their music.
The last three tracks are from the Gene Generation soundtrack. Ronan joined with Scott Glassgow to score a number of the instrumental tracks for the film. The movie itself comes off as a cheesy, low-budget cyberpunk film, but the soundtrack is excellent, these three tracks being no exception. The signature VNV sound is there, focusing on the epic soundscapes and driving synthlines that have defined tracks like Strata/Interceptor and Lightwave.
Overall, a very good release that's been a long time coming. Expect to hear a number of songs from this at the club, if you haven't already. With all these unreleased and hard-to-find tracks together in one place, and a full live performance DVD, this release is a must-have for any VNV fan.
Reformation, the much-anticipated Matter + Form/Judgement remix and b-sides album is out this Tuesday, with a live performance DVD, all for $17.99. It's kind of strange to review a remix album, but here goes.
First song is a Modcom remix of Chrome from Matter + Form. Its very Dance Floor. Heavier beat and re-imagined synth line. Less lyrics, more repetition. Not much more to say, a simple but fun song.
Next up is the SITD remix of Chrome, an altogether different song from the first. Containing the entire lyrical content, with a wide synth soundscape. It's reminiscent of Seabound, very epic. Listen for the breakdown after the first Chorus. Excellent track.
Finally there's the Apop remix, which sounds very much like a modern Apop song. It's up to you whether or not that's a good thing. Apprently the vocal effects on Ronan's voice wasn't "Chrome" enough, so now its been put through a metallic blender. Thankfully, it's the shortest of the three.
Starting out the next round of remixes is the ABM version of Interceptor. Everything an instrumental remix should be, it plays with the original sounds and structure enough so that it stands on its own, but is instantly recognizable. It doesn't carry the same cinematic qualities as the original, with a harsher, more industrial feel.
Following that is SAM's remix of Nemesis. SAM will be accompanying VNV for their North American tour this year. They're much more EBM, in the vein of Combichrist and God Module, and this track is no exception. SAM Manages to make an already passionately angry song sound downright pissed off. Very fast, very hard, very loud. All in less then 4 minutes.
Frozen Plasma takes the reins for the next track, remixing Carry You. Already one of the strongest tracks in recent VNV Nation history, Frozen Plasma captures the feel of the original track , while giving it a much colder, simpler sound. It loses much of the majestic feel of the original that made it so great, but makes it more of a dancefloor track.
The last of the remixes is As it Fades 2nd Movement. Based on the last track of Judgement, it's more of a follow-up then a remix. Featuring full lyrics (the original is an instrumental) and a much more in-your-face sound. The lyrics follow the same theme as Judgement, the picture of a world on the edge of turmoil, a world in much need of change. The track culminates with a very strong, very uplifting end, much like Neverending Light from Matter + Form.
The first of the unreleased tracks is Still Waters. It hardly sounds like a VNV Nation song at all until about a minute in. A very minimalist intro leads to a Matter + Form-esque rolling bassline. A full two minutes into the track, Ronan begins singing to the deepest and darkest parts of us. The suffering child, the lonely man. "Close your eyes.... Here you have strength... you don't have to live in pain." Continuing the theme of strength in adversity present in much of their music, Ronan reminds us of the power of silence.
Precipice is a song about forgiving yourself and moving forward. It sounds like it would be right at home on Judgement, a thumping bassline, strong synthline, good structure. A danceable track with a message. Its hard to see why this was cut from the lineup, very strong track.
Suffer carries us out of the three unreleased tracks with an angelic chorus over sweeping strings, No lyrics, no percussion, just sweet song and music. Without a word, Ronan and Mark portray the sense of hope present in all their music.
The last three tracks are from the Gene Generation soundtrack. Ronan joined with Scott Glassgow to score a number of the instrumental tracks for the film. The movie itself comes off as a cheesy, low-budget cyberpunk film, but the soundtrack is excellent, these three tracks being no exception. The signature VNV sound is there, focusing on the epic soundscapes and driving synthlines that have defined tracks like Strata/Interceptor and Lightwave.
Overall, a very good release that's been a long time coming. Expect to hear a number of songs from this at the club, if you haven't already. With all these unreleased and hard-to-find tracks together in one place, and a full live performance DVD, this release is a must-have for any VNV fan.
