VNV Nation
Praise the Fallen

THE REVIEW

I’ve never been a big fan of electronic music, especially when it comes to techno beats and danceable rhythms.

Yet there are exceptions.

Struck on the proverbial road to Damascus by some "future pop" listens, I couldn’t help but pay attention to the astonishing offerings of the British VNV Nation.

This record of theirs dates back to 1998 and came out before that masterpiece known as "Empire".

"Praise The Fallen" is still soaked in techno-EBM influences. The impact of the masters Front 242 is very strong here.

But something is starting to change. Alongside the aforementioned danceable rhythms, the presence of cold and melancholic atmospheres is undeniable. Depeche Mode, just to make a point, had set the standard.

I mentioned Depeche Mode. Well, Dave Gahan’s band, together with the EBM scene, will be essential for understanding the development of VNV Nation.

The songs I want to highlight, rich with anger and sadness, are "Joy" (perhaps the best of the bunch), "Voice", and "Honour".

Still too raw to talk about "future pop", but nonetheless well on their way to change: try comparing this album to the previous one, "Advance and Follow". I’m sure you’ll agree with me.

Sixty minutes to escape. Sixty minutes to forget what we don’t like. Sixty minutes to dance and let loose. And never, mind you, over banal melodies or music that neglects the lyrical aspect.

On that note, I recommend reading their evocative lyrics.

VNV Nation: a project that, even at the end of the twentieth century, already shined with its own light!