(Property of Anachron, used under Fair Use for direct, substantial commentary on product)
[Tracks] - [Time]
1. On-Air - 3:26
2. Space & Time - 4:53
3. Resolution - 6:14
4. Control - 5:50
5. Goodbye 20th Century - 4:27
6. Streamline - 6:06
7. Gratitude - 6:05
8. Nova (Shine a Light on Me) - 6:06
9. Photon - 5:52
10. Radio - 7:47
First, as an aside, am I the only person who thinks it would be hilarious if VNV Nation were to make their next album with a Streamline Moderne theme to counter Automatic's Art Deco? Maybe VNV could make an album cover that remixes this image. But I kid. I kid.
VNV Nation takes its theme seriously in this release, beginning with the "dawn of the modern age" feel of the opening song, "On-Air", an instrumental that mixes radio static with a piano tune. It's seemingly meant to evoke feelings of being brought into this modern world that these musicians want to guide you through.
"Space and Time" is probably my second favorite song ever by VNV Nation, only trailing behind "Standing (Still)". It's quite poppy, but I like this more hopeful, less angry version of VNV Nation. In this song, Ronan sings about something that everyone should be able to relate to, the ability to look at one's past and wonder if all the decisions made were the best. As the lyrics explain, through this type of looking back, one can manage to feel "lost" and get swept away in the feeling. It's the kind of song that everyone can listen to and be able to think about in their own way with meaning and purpose.
As for the beat and melody, I think this is the kind of song that should be in any goth-industrial DJ's back pocket when there is a need to fill in a middle-speed gap with something inspirational and highly danceable. This song does tons of different things and changes directions a number of times, which keeps ears pretty occupied, too. You want fast booms? You got it. You want clear vocals against a soft beat? Got it. Like significant synth work? Got it. Want an instrumental section that is seemingly self-aware? Got that, too. This is the kind of song that I admit that I'm a complete sucker for, and if it's done well, it will force me to gush almost every time.
The very next song, "Resolution", is another excellent song for which I cannot say enough praise. It's about the need to maintain pride and fighting spirit in the face of adversity and loss. There is a certain type of beauty to this song that is difficult to find in a lot of music, particularly in futurepop. In my opinion, the electronic processing that goes into futurepop (or synthpop or EBM) makes it difficult to convey artistic beauty of the self, which this song does. Often, it's hard to experience the story and be able to float through it without being aware that you're within the presence of a song. I feel like "Resolution" does this though, or at least it comes very close. Even the fast beats are soothing and subdued, and when I listen to the song, particularly for the second or third time in a short period, it can cause a somewhat hypnotic dream state. The time just passes, and I can just picture the story as it relates to my life and memories.
"Streamline" is another good one. This is part of a greater commentary about the betterment of humankind. VNV uses imagery of futuristic technological improvements to explain the advancements in how people think and feel. There is a variable, slightly noisy vibrating beat in the background that adds to the feeling of the somewhat commercial-like feeling of the song. (To clarify, the presentation feels a little bit like one of those commercials during one of the Sunday morning news shows in the U.S. in which the company advertising seems to always talk at length about all the things it's doing to make the world better.) This is more of a "listening" song than the last two that I mentioned, but I still like it.
Now, if you want a song that will pick you up after you feel like you've been punched in the gut by your significant other, "Gratitude" is the song for you. The melody in the beginning is pretty, and the lyrics have that half-sincere, half-sarcastic vibe that makes this song wonderful. The lyrics basically boil down to, "Thank you for screwing me over. I've learned a lot." This is another one of the numerous songs on the album in which the tune seems to just blend in with the environment and create a mood for the listener. The beginning and end are overt, as if they're intentionally trying to break you in and out, but the rest of the song, with mostly soft percussion and cuddly synths, just provides the backdrop.
Finally, I find myself talking about "Radio", which is an excellent song to end the album. It slowly fades in and slowly fades out, giving off that impression of denouement for the album's story and cooling down for the listener. The general theme of the song is loneliness and the desire to put a message out there that may mean something to someone, someday. One is meant to feel hope, even after the story ends. This song is different from the others I've mentioned, but it does the job that it's supposed to do, which is to bring you out of the album and back into your normal day.
Obviously, I've gone into way more detail about this album than I have about a number of other albums. But I feel like there's just been that much to say. VNV tends to create a lot of depth in their albums, and it's hard not to get carried away at times. That's not to say that I think other bands don't make substantial music, but it's just that VNV Nation creates the kind of music that almost forces out an opinion from the listener. While others can just sit back and enjoy a lot of other artists, VNV finds a way to get people talking.
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