VNV Nation - Pastperfect (DVD)

This is the debut DVD package by the English band VNV Nation. It consists of 2 DVDs and an extra CD-Rom (limited edition only). DVD 1 includes live acts which were filmed in Berlin on 6th April 2002 and at the Mera Luna festival on 10th August 2002. Interviews, tour preparations and impressions, and Making Of are on DVD 2. The CD-Rom includes some low-quality mpeg live videos recorded at the Mera Luna festival 1999 and 2000, additional interviews and some JPEG photos of the band. Also included are a little poster and a sticker.
DVD 1 starts with a computer animated intro supported by a dramatically musical background leading to the DVD menu. The live video recordings are of good quality and were enhanced with some special video effects. Sharpness, colours and noise are quite good; however, the contrast not always matches the otherwise good quality. The audio quality delivers a good live-mixing based on luscious bass and good heights, most of the time. Unfortunately it does not deliver any multi-channel Dolby Surround or DTS. Listeners will have to be content with two channel Dolby digital at the expense of live-feeling.
The bands live quality does not reach the studio quality as the singers voice sounds swamped with singing. Otherwise, the front-man greatly understood how to create a pulsating atmosphere during the whole concert. Yet, I am sure that the exciting live atmosphere was mainly due to the excellent musical background featuring new versions of album songs packed into a more modern garment.
All together, this DVD package will satisfy each VNV Nation fan or people who are going to be a VNV Nation fan. The weaknesses in quality could be connived by the excellent setting of the DVD package, especially the rare interviews and additional videos.

A Different Drum - Clubanthems Vol. 3 (Compilation)

This compilation by the American label A Different Drum has extended versions and especially club-capable mixes of their own label releases, which you can also find on maxi CDs. The low price of USD 6.00 gives you the unique chance of getting in contact with an excellent collection of SynthPoP music of more or less well-known bands. This release includes remixes of songs by Real Life, Syrian, Neuropa, T.O.Y., De/Vision and many more. Clubanthems alternates with the release of the compilation "SynthPoP for a Darkened Room" which delivers melancholic dark remixes of songs and ballads of ADD label-releases. Volume 3 will probably be out in autumn 2004.
The mid to fast speed remixes on Clubanthems Vol. 3 are bound to satisfy both club DJs and SynthPoP lovers who fancy melancholic and dark electronic music enriched by trance and techno influenced elements.

The Diginity Of Labour - XRV (Maxi-CD)

The one man band The Dignity Of Labour (www.tdol.us) featuring Kirk Taylor presents it's official debut single XRV, distributed by "A Different Drum" (www.adifferentdrum.com) and delivers a foretaste to the forthcoming self-titled debut album.
Besides the original version of XRV this single features several remixes of the title track, remixes of "Vinyl Bliss" and the album version of Oxygen. Whereas the original version of XRV is dominated by 80s synthesizer-sounds combined with an excellent clear and powerful singing the "Nevearakka" mix turns this version into a fast pulsating club and dance version. The "Upstairs At Eric's" remix aims the early eighties audience and reminds the analogue synthesizer based music by Yazoo, which released a same-titled album in 1982. The further remixes "Xtreme" and "Domination mix" brings us sedateness of the title-song and turns it into chill-out variations.
The b-side songs "Vinyl Bliss" and "Oxygen" represent typical 80s styled SynthPoP including a very catchy refrain and playful synthesizer melody in the background. The singing in "Vinyl Bliss" strongly reminds the voice of Brian Hazard but with less vibration and more powerful. Hence the vocals don't diminish the musical qualities.
XRV is an exciting debut single with Krik Taylor using current techno and trance elements which enabled him to create a proper classical SynthPoP song that reaches the heart of each SynthPoP addict. I am very much looking forward to the full-length album which will come out this year.

The last full-length album "The Winter of Our Discontent" was originally released in April 2003. But now remixes of the album track "The Story of Our Lives" are available. The maxi CDs include five different remixes by Epic, Echo Image, Virtual Server, Syrian and Tecnoman SF, also remixes of the album track "Winter", "Blind" and "Fall Awake" and the exclusive song "Seaside" and the Wolfsheim cover "The Sparrows < The Nightingales".
Whereas the Epic remix added a slow piano part to the beginning and ending of the album version the Echo Image remix transforms it into a club-capable dance version with a fast pulsating beat. Syrian enriched the original version with their knowledge of techno based electronic music which resulted in an exciting dance version. Virtual Server also upgrades the original version with a massive use of techno elements and impulsive beats. All together Tecnoman SF delivers a more 'synthpoptic' version and passes on trance and techno elements.
Furthermore, the additional tracks keep up with the remixes. The Sequencia remix transforms the melancholic track "Winter" into an analogue synthesizer based version sweetened with playful sounds. The Echoing Green used real instruments - drums and guitars - and less synthesizers for the additional ballad Seaside. I also have to mention the cover-version of "The Sparrows < The Nightingales". They used distorted voices to enforce the darkness of this song which perfectly fits the new arranged and now up-to-date musical background. The German part within the song sounds a little bit funny, as the articulation reminds us of the German speaking Russians in 80s action movies.
Anyway this maxi-CDs represent a well done addendum to the 2003 release full length album and is a must for all who like danceable remixes of SynthPoP songs.