Customer Reviews

Nato

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Laibach yet again use the modus operandi of the cover version to get their message across, and what better way to create a critique of the Western failure to intervene in the Balkans than by producing an album filled with cover versions of war songs..

Ranging from the ridiculous, such as Europe's Final Countdown and Status Quo's In The Army Now, through to the ominous and serious, NATO (an adaptation from Holst's planet suite)and Mars on the River Drina, Laibach's techno-driven anthems provide a much needed antidote to the more moralistic and somewhat condescending music created by some other bands concerning the Balkans situation..

The album's highlight has to be a cover of Edwin Starr's 'War', where instead of War being good for 'nothing at all' a list of leading Western industrial groups and media organisations is listed..

The irony is further extended with the album's closing song, Mars on the River Drina, an adaptation of a Serbian Army marching song.. Laibach actually had the guts to play this live in Sarajevo, days before NATO troops arrived following the Dayton peace accord..

Pity U2 didn't have as much courage rather than making a commercial success out of suffering...

A typically bizarre set of cover versions, this takes a bunch of war-related songs and twists them into Laibach's bizarre vision. More techno-influenced than 'Let it Be', this album seems even more horrifying now than it did then, given that everything they sang about actually happened.

'The Final Countdown' isn't too different from the original, 'In the Year 2525' is much abridged, and sounds like a strange Stalinist propaganda track, 'In the Army Now' is haunting and slow, 'Alles Gegen Alles' adds an orchestral bit to an extremely minimalist original, and the version of Edwin Collins' 'War' is amazing - after asking what war is good for, it answers. The instrumental opening and closing tracks are fairly dull, but this is generally a classic album, one that you will either love or hate. Play it loud and worry your neighbours.

Where else can you find Status Quo covered by an eastern european art collective?

Laibach is one of the avant-garde "industrial" bands whose sound can change drastically between albums. On NATO, their music is fast fun dancebeats & a lot of quasi-operatic very airy female vocals. Also, of course, the very low speaking over the music.

I think in order to truly enjoy this album, you've got to listen to it with a sense of humor. The synths are cheezy, the covers are kitsch and corny, and pervading all of it is this strange... gothic... electronic... choral... anthem sound. The songs are stirring and driving, but oddly contrasted with extremely serious and croaky vocals heavily laden with a strong Slavic accent. But these are all selling points! I love this album, for all of its schmaltzy apocalyptic drama!

Be warned, many (if not all?) of these songs are covers--usually clever covers at that.

I guess some folks would have to take this release with a grain of salt. I don't. Laibach comes off like some kind of dark Wierd Al Yankovic and I love it. In the army now and The Final Countdown are instant classics. Dogs of War's Shakesperian theme spawn images of Christopher Plummer as General Chang in Star Trek VI. 2525 is a bit dull but that's the only blemish on this disk. This album is very well done and it's a treat for anyone who wants to have a peek into eastern European humor and satirical style.

Laibach in NATAO demonstrates an uncanny ability to take a classic piece of music, whether it be Holst's Mars, or the classic 70's protest song "Cherokee Nation", and twists it into a contemporary, meaningful, driving and relevant piece of music. I love their knack for transition.