Customer Reviews

Matter + Form

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

VNV Nation, the duo of Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson, have with every album honed and refined their distinct sound and style. As the fathers of futurepop, they have weathered the highs and lows of becoming one of the most influential bands in the electronic music scene. With this, their fifth album, "Matter + Form," VNV Nation reinvents itself yet again. Several familiar elements remain, but there is a new sound at work here. The synthesizers have a more organic sound to them (a result of abandoning the PC/softsynth-only approach of their previous album "Futureperfect," and returning to the vintage equipment that signified the sound of their earlier albums), the drums have more variety of tone (some tracks sound more like real drums instead of electronic), the vocals have a wider breadth of melody (Ronan actually sings on key and harmonizes with himself on several tracks), and even stretching outside of the EBM/electro confines of the genre to write songs that actually could have commercial appeal. Songs like "Perpetual" and "Arena" have definite potential to be heard on modern radio, with their catchy melodies and the organic drumming. Other tracks like "Chrome" and "Entropy" recall the old sound of VNV, but with an updated sound and a mature mentality. These songs show the band stepping outside of the formulas they previously set for themselves. "Endless Skies" is a sweet ballad that succeeds where "Holding On" from the previous album failed. Ronan has a greater command of his voice and sings with melancholic passion. "Strata" and "Interceptor" are the obligatory trance-ish instrumentals as only VNV can do...these tracks will be surefire hits on the dancefloor, as will "Homeward" which would also make for a great single. "Colours of Rain" is the real surprise here, musically speaking. With its gothic piano and sweeping symphonics, it has a surprisingly warm sound to it, belying the cold electronic nature of the genre. Indeed, "Matter + Form" shows VNV Nation is not afraid to step outside the norm and take steps to make changes and evolve. This is a revolutionary album that will anger several fans who prefer the old sound, but will astound those with an open mind. Evolution is essential for survival, and VNV Nation are one of the few bands out there who are striving to evolve. When all is said and done, "Matter + Form" is quite an achievement, not just for VNV Nation, but for the electronic music genre as a whole. Listen and enjoy!!!

Note: Check out a more in-depth review at http://www.regenmag.com/Sections-article246-p1.html, written by yours truly.

Before reading reviews on this album, here's something to consider:
VnV Nation has been around for a while now and their sound has progressed a long way since Advance and Follow. As they've refined these standards they've also refined what VnV ultimately is, and I suppose that's why there's a heavy division in what people seem to expect from VnV Nation. When reading thoughts on the band one has to take into account that, until and even through Empires, most of VnV Nation's tracks were out-and-out angst over the state of tyranny in lands that worship flags and court death. In Empire changes began to occur, with those truly noticeable for the first time in B-sides like Tempest (on Dark Angel)and in a few other wayward tracks that people really took notice of. In terms of music and in message FuturePerfect tempoed this transition even more, courting an introspective view that started to outweigh the external angst that foreshadowed so many hits of the past. You could see sadness and beauty in different ways, regret and loss without touches of lashing out, and you could feel beauty as Ronan payed homage to faces he personally knew. Instead of being one-tracked, a montage of other thoughts that plagued Ronan Harris came through and he courted those worlds so admirably. And, on Matter and Form, the album takes that to a new level.

In many ways, the face VnV Nation has evolved and that's why there's so many mixed reviews.

Personally, I love this album and have had it in my discman since it dropped because there are some stellar tracks on it. I'll mention three songs out of it by name as samples for someone if they feel inclined to check them out, with them seemingly strongpoints to me.
"Chrome" is really catchy, beat-driven with a nice chorus echoing "if I could change your mind, I wouldn't save you from the path you wander" that mixes the internal thoughts with an external audience. Memories, echoes, and the deafness of humanity. Its a good track.
"Arena" is possibly my favorite track on the album, slowing only to pick up pace and yet painting a picture that details itself so well. That seems to be one of the things VnV excels at, and the song is moving. The music, thematic in its own way, drives the wording and the wording drives the soul. "Above the waves with my hands raised until the wind lays claim to me." Its beautiful.
"Homeward" is another track that's like that, moving and somewhat breathtaking in its own way, growing on me as I listen to it more and more. The subtle ways Ronan motions and the beats seem to signal back, the lyrical play; it moves. This is possibly the most beautiful song on the album in my opinion. "Here are the stars far from home."
And "Perpetual;" that's a 4th to check out if you still need to forge and opinion on the state of this particular union.

When taking VnV Nation, you have to take them in segments and remember that they're evolving. So, to older fans, clear slates are required to enjoy new motions. And, to new people, ignore the groans of old bones that can't run new races. Go to Metropolis-Records.com and listen to the two samples and see if you like it, making your own judgments because VnV is possibly one of the most talented bands in circulation right now. Note that there are also alot of beat instrumentals leading into songs, tracks of them, and that VnV does both lyrics and sounds.
"Let there always be neverending light."

Empires seems to have been the creative peak for VNV Nation. Futureperfect was not nearly as strong and less consistent, although it had many good tracks. Matter+Form throws any sense of consistency out the window and although there are some good tracks on here, not enough to keep this album afloat. Chrome and Homeward are good tracks that are more like what you might expect from VNV Nation, the rest go all over the place. Rock-style drums and pop-like rythyms seem to dominate the rest of the album and make for a less than enjoyable overall listening experience. It lacks a real direction and any coherence and is more of a thrown-together collection of tracks than an actual album. They may never make another Empires, but I certainly expect better than this from them.

This is the latest album release by the duo of VNV Nation. It is a solid album however it isn't in the same 'blockbuster' standing as the prior albums; 'Empires' and 'Futurepurfect' were. The evolution or de-evolution as some fans have stated in reviews is tending this album toward the dance anthem style that many electronica have gone making it DJ friendly. But the CD is still a pleasure to listen too.
The picks of this album are 'Arena', 'Interceptor', 'Endless Skies' and 'Lightwave'. These songs are the most easy to follow and have dance themes that one can dance to at all times. Gone is the high pitched industrial sounds and the robotic vocals and replaced with serene melodies and vocals sung passionately and deeply felt.

VNV Nation is arguably one of the most essential artists in the Industrial scene. I was introduced to VNV with their album, "Empires" and that set the bar for me as to what VNV is. I like the more pounding, slightly agressive songs with lyrics to match. The types of songs I absolutely adore from Ronan and Mark are "Joy", "Fragments", "Kingdom", and "Dark Angel". The only Song that came close to these is "Chrome". While I really love this song, it felt slightly off from what i've come to know as VNV Nation (except for the distinct vocals, who could not recognize those vocals?).

Now, Different people like different aspects VNVs work. To be fair to those who salivate over songs like, "Beloved", and "Forsaken", you'll get your money's worth with songs like, "Endless Skies" and "arena". While I'm not one for VNVs slow tracks, I do know that there are fans out there who love this stuff.

For those who like VNVs instramental tracks, There's two real awsome instramental tracks on this album. Strata and Interceptor are back to back instramentals that sound more similar than not, and the tracks bleed into one another. It's almost like a Part I and Part II of the same song. Lightwave is another good instramental. These three tracks are made for the dance floor.

So I feel this album is definitely worth a buy for any decent VNV fan. However, if you're just being introduced to VNV Nation, Buy Empires or FuturePerfect before this one.

I normally do not write reviews, but my disappointment in this album forces me to.

The album has potential, but has a few critical flaws.

1) Too many instrumentals. 5 tracks are instrumentals, and the album has 2 gaps of 10 minutues without a single vocal being uttered.

2) Chrome. Clearly the best track on the album, and one of their best ever. As the first real song on the album, it sets a high standard, and unfortunately none of the other tracks even aspire to be this good.

3) Colour of Rain. This track is a true abomination. A very boring piano loop played at a very low volume. The first time I listened to the album I almost fell asleep listening to this track. As the 4th track on the album, so close to Chrome, it is a real let down. This is the fatal blow from which the album cannot recover.

Colour of Rain is followed by 2 more instrumentals, Strata and Interceptor. While they are decent tracks, they cannot regain my interest in the album. Over 10 minutes without a vocal, I'm lost.

The next 2 tracks feel out of place. Entropy is the token industrial track, and I have never been a fan of VNV Nation's harsher tracks. Entropy is then followed by the ballad Endless Skies, a very nice track, but a bit of a shock following Entropy.

Finally, an the last 3 tracks, Homeward, Lightwave and Perpetual, they hit their stride, VNV Nation closes the album with some comfort food for their fans. These 3 tracks would feel at home on Empires or Future Perfect. Lightwave is an instrumental, and Perpetual has a long intro, that pushes the gap without vocals to almost 10 minutes, however this time it is enjoyable.

In summary, their is a enough decent material here for a good EP. With an additional track or 2, and the deletion of Colour of Rain, this could have been a very good album.

I normally enjoy listening to entire CDs, but the middle of this CD is a mess. Matter and Form will never, in the original form, find its place in the CD changer again. Most of the tracks will find homes on my mix CDs, so I will get some enjoyment out of it.

Well Ive been a VNV Nation fan for years and when I found they had a new album out I bought it that day... Needless to say, It could have been better.. i agree with most of the other reviews and just want to warn people that would like to get the whole experiance of VNV Nation not to start with this album. I would start with Empires and go there. It is listenable totally and some songs will go on you but if I were to make a VNV compilation there might be one or two songs from this album as opposed to the five or six taken from other CD's theyve made. But I will keep listening and do support any new direction they are willing to take.

Amusingly enough, the people who love this album the most are the people who have never heard vnv nation before. I in turn show them the preceding ones, and they still like this one the most.

It is a good album. The block of instrumental in the middle, although lovely, is a bit annoying, but the songs on there save arena are wonderful. Arena just reminds me of theme songs to brat pack movies.

So if you are really dedicated to the old sound of VNV Nation, you are not going to like this. If you are just getting into it, you will probably love it. I liked it for what it was, but I still prefer the earlier ones.

I would be lying to you, dear reader, if I were to say that I was not excited to finally make Ronan and Mark's latest effort my own. I had to travel to the warehouse to pick it up and my hands eagerly tore away the plastic wrap as soon as I returned to the automobile. The first song (track 2, "Chrome") blew me away. I knew they had done it again. I cruised home with the windows down blasting the new sounds. It is winter now, and I have had plenty of time to soak things in and come down from that initial high, so here is the report. The album is excellent. Before its release, I had heard the boys perform "Entropy" and "Homeward" in concert, both of which I liked, and enjoy more now after hearing them for a few months. The album does not lack variety either, with VNV's slower (sadder?) side on "Endless Skies," invigorating instrumentals ("Lightwave"), and inspirational big sounds ("Perpetual"). "Chrome" is still incredible. If you are a fan of VNV Nation, I imagine you already have this album and do not need any recommendation. If you are at all a fan of industrial or synthpop music, you will not be disappointed. For those who simply appreciate thoughtful lyrics and painstakingly constructed, layered music, give it a shot. I think you will enjoy it.

"Let there be... let there always be... neverending light."

SoZ

So typically VNV Nation, for me has been rather dark and forboding. I mean their last release was rather brutal and heavy.

Then this release comes in.

It's surprisingly light. Some of the tracks were actually pretty...beautiful, to listen to. Not beautiful in a dark way either, beautiful in a light way, which I am not used to.

I could compare this with how much Razed in Black changed with their most recent CD, "Damaged". Surprisingly trancey, but VNV Nation did not go the trancy route, more, they went a beautiful route, with piano and really nice athmospheric synths.

The whole album isn't like this though, there are your dark tracks, which have some forboding, but none of them really strike that deep note that their previous releases have.

I like the change in style, granted, it's only an opinion of mine, but yes, it's good.

Definitely a good buy for fans, and if you are looking for something a little different from the monotonous industrial sound. A solid buy, and something that I will keep listening to for quite awhile.