Review Summary: every saga has a beginning…
VNV Nation: that wonderful futurepop band that went on to become one of the greatest futurepop bands of all time. They not only created the genre, they defined it. With every slice the taste improved, to the point where the band has become quite the powerhouse. However, one has to wonder what their music sounded like when they were new, when they were inexperienced. It’s rather weird to listen to their debut album considering how different it is from their newer stuff. It’s like walking into a Seventh Day Adventist Church where the people dress formally as if it’s still the 1960’s. It’s an eye-opening experience that shouldn’t be missed if you call yourself a true fan of VNV Nation. After all,
Advance and Follow (v2) is a shockingly good album anyway.
In their debut album, VNV Nation proved they were a powerful force. As their sound had not been refined yet, their method of delivery was aggressive. In fact, the album is barely futurepop at all, and is easily their most industrial piece of work. With relentlessly abrasive beats and industrial mechanisms, the album has a harshness that their other albums cannot compete with. The atmosphere is cold and mechanical, and takes you to a place where robots are created and designed to kill all of humanity. The album is the perfect accompaniment to a Terminator movie marathon, or a jog through a futuristic, bleak future. Despite it being their first album, the band was already creating compelling music that told a story.
As it was their first album, the vocals are quite lacking. Singing is indeed in the album, but not in a way that makes any songs memorable. Choruses are nonexistent, verses all sound the same (vocally), and the singing generally isn’t very good. Thankfully, Ronan Harris more often than not realizes this and employs spoken words in the album, which contribute to the bleak atmosphere. The atmosphere is key to the album, for VNV Nation had not yet learned how to create memorable, melodic songs. Ultimately,
Advance and Follow (v2) is something to be experienced. It’s not designed to get you dancing, it’s something to listen to while you’re sitting in isolation, contemplating the meaning of life. Yeah, it’s pretty good.
