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Rating: During their thirty years of activity, Laibach has accustomed us to extreme experiments, sudden style changes and continuous provocations and "Volk" is no exception. The title ("People" in German) broadly suggests the album's theme: it is in fact a collection of national anthems reinterpreted by Milan and company, with the help of the excellent Silence (a semi-unknown Slovenian electronic band) and Mina Spiler.
The style of the album is decidedly less violent and aggressive compared to the previous "WAT", the typical martial rhythms are less heavy and Fras's voice, although always low and cavernous, at times becomes a whisper. Having abandoned electric guitars, Laibach focuses on a myriad of extremely measured and refined electronic effects, sometimes sweet and harmonious, sometimes disturbing as if they were interferences.
Regarding the content, it is severely reductive to say that "Volk" is an album of national anthem covers. In the past, Laibach taught us how a successful song can be completely turned upside down both musically and message-wise (I'm reminded of "Opus Dei," a sinister cover of Opus), so a nation's anthem becomes a pretext to express opinions about it, whether positive or negative. The project thus proves very interesting, also because some parts of the original texts are retained, contextualized in often fierce criticism. Among the best pieces, the single "Anglia" is not a particularly benevolent portrayal of the British, with arrogance being rebuked, while "America" takes aim at U.S. imperialism. Milan's tone isn't his usual angry one but that of a father who urges, recalls, reproaches, cuddles his children. "Germania" and "Türkiye" are another two really remarkable tracks for intensity and tension, while "Italia" is weaker, musically too tied to Mameli's anthem. "Francia" and "Rossiya" are decidedly catchy, perhaps too much. "Zhonghua" (China), "Nippon", "Slovania" (from which a single was extracted) remain more difficult for me to decipher since I am not familiar with the respective anthems. The album closes with two instrumental pieces "Vaticanae" and "NSK", the anthem of the international nation of artists founded by Ourselves.
In general, "Volk" is a unique work in the history of music, it pushes the concept of a cover to the extreme, and as for the project itself, there is no other adjective one can give but "genius". From the listener's point of view, we witness an absolutely enjoyable album, never boring and rather refined. The early fans of "Brat Moj" might frown upon a decidedly more accessible work, but I still feel like recommending it to them, as well as to everyone else, provided you don't loathe electronics and synth.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Anglia (03:39)
So you still believe you're ruling the World,
Using all your tricks to keep the picture blurred.
Scatter your enemies, confound their politics,
So you still believe you're ruling the world...
God save your gracious Queen,
Long live your noble Queen.
God save your gracious Queen,
God save you all!
So you still believe you're superior,
And all other nations are inferior,
Any sedition hushed, rebellious Scots crushed,
So you still believe you're superior,
God save your gracious Queen,
Long live your noble Queen.
God save your gracious Queen,
God save you all!
So you still pretend you're ruling the World,
Using all your tricks to keep the picture blurred...
So you still pretend you're ruling the World,
Using all your tricks to keep the picture blurred...
07 España (03:12)
Triunfa España
Let us sing, comrades,
the great battle song,
our fierce voices
shall prove we're strong
soldiers, the country
calls us to the fight.
we swear to her loyalty
to conquer or die.
Triunfa españa – el fantasma de la Edad de Oro
brave is your Jesus – El Toreador!
the fire of battle
the trumpet of war,
affrighting the greedy,
the cannons now roar.
Raise your arms, sons
and daughters of spain,
this glorious nation is
emerging again.
Triunfa España!
Los yunques y las ruedas,
cantan al compas
del himno de la fe.
Gloria, Gloria, crown of the poor,
brave is your Jesus – El Toreador…
Gloria, Gloria, crown of the poor,
dark was your Jesus – El Conquistador!
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