Volk

Laibach

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 31, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B000I0QL00
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,229 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Germania

2. America

3. Anglia

4. Rossiya

5. Francia

6. Italia

7. España

8. Yisra´el

9. Turkiye

10. Zhònghuá

11. Nippon

12. Slovania

13. Vaticanae

14. Nsk

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Special 32-page hardbook packaging. VOLK contains 14 songs, 13 reinterpretations of national anthems and the NSK anthem.

Slovenia's infamous, LAIBACH, return with VOLK, their first studio album since 2003's powerful release WAT. VOLK (meaning 'people' in German), is based on National Anthems from countries around the world. The songs of the album form an entity that speaks about the political situation nowadays, it is an acknowledgement but also a warning for the future generations. In the process of recording, the band discovered that the essence of all these anthems is very bloody, even though these reflect the patriotic and national sentiment of these countries. Sonically, Laibach have always reinvented themselves but this album is an even more radical change. Even though Laibachian to its core, the album is based on melodic, nostalgic songs, with an electro-pop feel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laibach returns to its innovative roots, February 24, 2007

By	Charles A. Miller (Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Finally... the innovative Laibach is back! Without a doubt, a band with far more potential than their releases of the past decade would indicate. The 80s and early 90s featured groundbreaking works that amazed as much as they entertained... music of unique quality and daring. Each new release was shockingly different from its predessor and each new album was something that had never been done before. It quite literally made one giddy with excitement each time a new release was announced. However, the past couple of CDs left much to be desired... routine and mostly forgettable techno that did not bring anything new to the table.

With Volk, we are presented with the Laibach of old again. Not that this new issue is a rehash of anything that has gone before, but rather, Laibach (along with excellent assistance from Silence) is finally treading new territory again. This is gentler work than the techno period, but is well compenstated for by the fact that it is far more innovative.

The national anthems of 14 countries (to include NSK as the final track) are reworked both lyrically and musically into wonderous new forms. A number of guest vocalists accompany Laibach's usual harshness and combine into something that is both familiar and refreshing. Musically, the predictable techno-beat has been replaced with transciptions of the original source material that surprise and delight. Just listen to the samples to get an idea. As a previous reviewer called it, perhaps the best album of the year.

This new release can be heartily recommended to newcomers as well as to those of us who missed Laibach's incredible ability to reinvent music and put it in its own terms.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laibach's masterpiece, May 7, 2007

By	Mirko (Suisse) - See all my reviews

I've been listening to Laibach for years, almost 20 to be acurate.
They explored many styles, including rap ("Hymn to the black sun") and mexitoonish ("Tito"). It was always interesting even though sometimes a little monotonously sepulcral.
Then came THAT one.
Having heard both the disc and the concert I definitely say it's by far the most creative and interesting of all their albums.
BUT! Don't expect gothic industrial trash: This album would be closer to Mike Oldfield's ambiences (though hugely political) than to Jesus Christ Superstar.
Laibach finally proved the public (and not only their fanbase who already knew that) that they are much more than Rammstein.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally... the innovative Laibach is back, February 21, 2007

By	Charles A. Miller (Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Volk (Audio CD)

Laibach is without a doubt a band with far more potential than their releases of the past decade would indicate. The 80s and early 90s featured groundbreaking works that amazed as much as they entertained... music of unique quality and daring. Each new release was shockingly different from its predessor and each new album was something that had never been done before. It quite literally made one giddy with excitement each time a new release was announced. However, the past couple of CDs left much to be desired... routine and mostly forgettable techno that did not bring anything new to the table.

With Volk, we are presented with the Laibach of old again. Not that this new issue is a rehash of anything that has gone before, but rather, Laibach (along with excellent assistance from Silence) is finally treading new territory again. This is gentler work than the techno period, but is well compenstated for by the fact that it is far more innovative.

The national anthems of 14 countries (to include NSK as the final track) are reworked both lyrically and musically into wonderous new forms. A number of guest vocalists accompany Laibach's usual harshness and combine into something that is both familiar and refreshing. Musically, the predictable techno-beat has been replaced with transciptions of the original source material that surprise and delight. Just listen to the samples to get an idea. As a previous reviewer called it, perhaps the best album of the year.

This new release can be heartily recommended to newcomers as well as to those of us who missed Laibach's incredible ability to reinvent music and put it in its own terms.