VNV Nation - Duisburg 2007

Music
The music of MODULATE was a kind of monotone hard industrial with voice samples but without vocals. The set run about 20 minutes and included 5 tracks.

Performance
MODULATE performed their set very dedicated and powerful. Several times I had the impression that the electronic drums were not been played live, maybe that were only technical problems but at different times the action on stage and the sound from the PA were not synchronic. The lightshow was a little bit static most of the time too.

Setlist
01. Das Bunker
02. Kommune 1
03. Skullfuck
04. Electronic Battle Weapon
05. Revolution

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 9
Light: 7
Total: 7.3




Imperative Reaction

After a short break to rebuild the stage the show went on with IMPERATIVE REACTION. The band was originally founded in 1996 by Ted Phelps and David Andrecht from the remains of the band D.N.A. The band's first release was an immediately popular track called ‘Persistent of Memory’. In 2000, Jason DM and Sam P. of Pulse Legion joined the live band. The band became known not just for their popular debut album and extensive play in clubs, but gained a following as a band to see live. In April, 2002, ‘Ruined’ was released. The band followed with a tour in support of the album, allowing them to play for increasingly large crowds and grow their fan base. Soon after the tour, the band worked on their next album, which was released in early 2004. ‘Redemption’ was more aggressive than the group's previous albums and helped to establish the band as standing on their own. The current album is called ‘As we fall’ and was released in November 2006. Supporting Ted on-stage was Gabriel (percussion) and Adam (synths). http://www.imperativereaction.net/ / http://www.myspace.com/imperativereaction



Music
Compared to the pure instrumental act opening the evening, we now got a “real” band on stage consisting of singer, drummer and keyboard player. The music of IMPERATIVE REACTION was a kind of pushing danceable electro sound with a nice dark melodic voice, sometimes Ted and Adam sung together or alternated. The show ran about 30 minutes and included six songs from different periods of the band history.



Performance
IMPERATIVE REACTION performed their songs very powerful and convincing. They did try to animate the crowd from the beginning and a great part of the audience followed them. There was more power on and off stage than during the first band. The lightshow was a little bit spare though and sometimes the musicians were hidden in the shadow in stage. But anyway it was more varied than during the band before giving especially some nice effects on the singer while the keyboard player sadly was almost always hidden in the dark.

Setlist
01. Arrogance
02. Something I Left Behind
03. Collapse
04. Severed
05. As we fall
06. Giving Into the Change

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: 7
Total: 7.5






VNV Nation

In the meantime, the venue was filled very well; the location was sold out and during the break the remaining part of the audience came in to welcome the headliner VNV NATION. Of course you know VNV NATION - the famous electro band. But do you know also what the letters VNV stand for? They stand for "Victory not Vengeance". The meaning behind this stylized motto is that one should strive to achieve, not sit in bitter regret. VNV NATION’s inspiration was originally the clash of modern and classical Europe cultures, where mythology and technology live in an uneasy fusion but this has since broadened to encompass a world view.



The music ranges from electronic dance music to ballads and classical inspired music. Inspirations are taken from a wide range of styles including contemporary underground club culture, industrial and classical music. The lyrics draw on philosophy, literature, art, politics and different forms of symbolism. VNV NATION does not advocate any ideology. It is a metaphor for expression. VNV NATION are Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson. On stage they were supported by André Winter (producer of several songs on ‘Matter+Form’) and Marco Visconti (XP8) on keyboards. The upcoming album ‘Judgement’ will be released on 5th April 2007. http://www.vnvnation.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/vnvnation



Music
As usual, Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson were supported by two live keyboard players. The show was opened by ‘The Farthest Star’ – also the opener from the upcoming album - followed by a lot of new songs mixed with well-known older songs including all-time hits like ‘Darkangel’, ‘Standing’ or ‘Beloved’ which is a must during every VNV NATION show. The new stuff sounded typical like VNV NATION - very danceable, very catchy and very sweeping. The main set finished after about 70 minutes with ‘Perpetual’ and the band left the stage but needless to say that they needed to come back for encores two times and even after ‘Beloved’ the audience was not yet satisfied when the band could leave the stage definitely.



Performance
Like every time at a VNV NATION show it was a big happening, not only a sequence of songs, rather an electrical storm, a discharge of emotions by mastermind Ronan Harris. Ronan - in a good temper - was running and dancing all over the stage all the time, he did establish touch to the audience and animated the crowd to dance and sing along. Already at the second song ‘Darkangel’ the spirit went over definitely and the whole crowd was celebrating a big party. Between the songs Ronan spoke to the audience, did some jokes and was talking about football or other bullshit – quite funny most of the time. In the background of the stage, Mark Jackson dominated the center behind his e-drums and completed the performance of Ronan with his powerful playing. The crowning finish of the show was the second and last encore – ‘Beloved’, performed only by Ronan and Mark (this time at the keyboard) - very touching at every time if the audience was singing the lyrics of this ballad. Really, a great show again and I'm sure a great deal of the audience will come back next time!



Setlist
01. The Farthest Star
02. Darkangel
03. Testament
04. Descent
05. Chrome
06. Fearless
07. Nemesis
08. Legion
09. Honour 2003
10. Illusion
11. Standing
12. Perpetual
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13. Homeward
14. Solitary
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15. Beloved

Rating
Music: 10
Performance: 10
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total 9.5


All pictures by Daniela Vorndran (http://www.black-cat-net.de/ / http://www.vorndranphotography.com/)
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