Stahlwerk, Düsseldorf, Germany28th December 2007
neuWerk Festival: Patenbrigade: Wolff, Modcom, Straftanz, Absurd Minds, Frozen Plasma, [:SITD:], VNV Nation
After the Christmas Holidays, on 28th December a nice festival took place in Düsseldorf: the NEUWERK FESTIVAL whose line-up offered several bands of the booking agency neuWerk what granted for some hours nice electro music. The evening started with PATENBRIGADE WOLFF and culminated with the show of VNV NATION.
Patenbrigade: Wolff
Sven Wolff and Lance Murdock make no secret of their obsession with heavy machinery. Endlessly fascinated with what appears to others as the monotonous daily routines of a construction site, they early on became enraptured with loud and gigantic machines, the glare of orange safety vests, yellow hard hats, and striped cordoning tape. However, the focus of their fervent adoration became the gravity-defying conductors in their seemingly never-ending tower cranes. It is exactly this bizarre source of inspiration that seems to have fuelled PATENBRIGADE: WOLFF and the duos zest for musical achievements since 1998. PATENBRIGADE: WOLFF is the soundtrack for this situation and remains dedicated to all tower crane conductors across the world. http://www.patenbrigade.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/patenbrigadewolff
Music & Performance
The attention of the crowd was pointed to the stage when during the intro a worker with an orange overall cordoned off the stage with yellow striped cordoning tape and powered on some orange warning beacons. The stage was decorated with various building site accessories and the band member entered the stage dressed in orange safety vests and yellow hard hats. The music was rhythmical and danceable electro sound mostly without vocals, partly with vocal samples or warped vocals. The performance included a lot of fanciful elements but it seemed to me a little bit inhomogeneous and fragmented with the breaks between the songs and I missed some more interaction to the crowd. I think at the beginning of the show were some technical problems, because a technician came on to the stage two times - now I know that PATENBRIGADE: WOLFF could not can run a sound check due to lack of time. Anyway the sound was really good during the show. The background projection unfortunately was halfway hooded by the drum set of VNV NATION and difficult visible because the band could not use the video beamer of the headliner and their own beamer was too low for the long distance.
Setlist
01. Unsere Patenbrigade
02. Intro
03. Maurerradio
04. Demokratischer Sektor
05. Führer WC
06. Einsatzbereitschaft
07. Turmdrehkran
08. Ostberliner Bauarbeiter
Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 7.6
Modcom
After a very short change over, the headliner entered the stage - of course not the real whole headliner but a part of them - namely Ronan Harris with MODCOM. MODCOM is a new project from Ronan Harris that did make its debut at last year's Wave Gothic Treffen in Leipzig. The music from this one-man project uses analogue modular synthesizers and analogue sequencers for live sound generation. Sequences and sounds are patched, manipulated, effected, re-patched and mixed live. This kind of performance was common to 70's synth pioneers who used walls of synths and cables to make sound but now its use will be for 21st century electronic beats, rhythms and soundscapes. http://www.modcom.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/modcom
Music & Performance
During the change over, Ronan Harris himself was on stage and checked the equipment and when he was ready he stayed on stage directly and the show started - 5 minutes earlier than announced btw. The stage was dominated by the large analogue synthesizers and sequencers, between the machines Ronan took his place and operated them. The set ran about 30 minutes and was more like a DJ set than a classical concert, strange for VNV NATION fans to see Ronan without his typical running stage performance and singing but still amusing. The sound was very multi-layered, rhythmic, danceable and rousing. The well-filled crowd quickly was infected and in a great temper, Ronan had a lot of fun and was pleased by the positive resonance of the crowd. The sound was excellent and the lightshow too.
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 8
Sound: 10
Light: 9
Total: 8.9
Straftanz
After another short change over the stage was ready for STRAFTANZ, a German electro project which became known through the song of the same name which was released in October 2006 and was spread successfully in the German electro clubs. The line “Straftanz im Stahlwerk” somehow fitted perfectly to the location’s name. ;) STRAFTANZ are "k-x", "j-l", "J-ing" and "Cyberdominator", on stage they were supported by the two luscious female dancers Julia and Linda. http://straftanz.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/straftanzmusic
Music & Performance
STRAFTANZ entered the stage mostly dressed in red overalls and performed a powerful and rousing electro-set which ran about 30 minutes. The singer ran all over the stage and through the crowd too. During the song ‘Praise the Panic’ guest singer "Mille" from the band KREATOR entered the stage and sang the song together with STRAFTANZ. The both luscious female dancers announced the first songs with large labels like the girls who announce the rounds at a boxing match and from the song ‘Gummimann’ on they stayed on stage and were posing and dancing along with the songs. After about 30 minutes the show finished with the well-known club hit ‘Straftanz’.
Setlist
01. Intro
02. Burn down heaven
03. Out Of Time
04. Praise the Panic
05. Gummimann
06. Motherfucker
07. Straftanz
Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 10
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 8.5
Absurd Minds
The next band on the line up was ABSURD MINDS. The project ABSURD MINDS was founded in 1995 by Stefan Grossmann and Tilo Ladwig. At that time they were musically inspired by the electro-scene of the early 90ies. From 1995 - 1999 ABSURD MINDS released three different CDs with just a very small amount of copies and on their own risk and distribution. In 1999 they had their first live onstage appearance in Dresden at the live-club Bunker. In the same year, ABSURD MINDS caught the attention of the German record-label SCANNER. Since that time, label and band work together very close. ABSURD MINDS are Stefan Grossmann (song writing, arranging, programming, vocals), Tilo Ladwig (programming, arranging keyboards) and Timo Fischer (arranging, drums). Since 2006, Toralf Nickisch of LEGACY OF MUSIC completes the band on keyboards and from time to time on vocals together with Stefan. http://www.absurdminds.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/absurdminds
Music & Performance
The music of ABSURD MINDS remembered me to PROJECT PITCHFORK, melodic danceable synth pop combined with a distinctive voice, pleasing for the ears and infecting for the legs too. On stage two keyboards were arranged and an e-drum, the both singers sang alternated and together and performed their songs passionately and powerful. The set ran about 30 minutes and consisted of 8 songs, started by ‘Brainwash’ and finished by ‘Herzlos’.
Setlist
01. Brainwash
02. Stop the Fall
03. Dying Alone
04. Self Imposed
05. Cycle
06. Regain the Throne
07. Dependence
08. Herzlos
Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 7.6
Frozen Plasma
The following band in the line up was FROZEN PLASMA. After the split of his very successful band NamNamBulu, Vasi Vallis founded FROZEN PLASMA in 2005 together with Felix Marc. The Debut Single ‘Hypocrite’ was released in November 2005, the first album ‘Artificial’ followed in April 2006 and the EP ‘Emphasize’ was released later in 2006. Vasi Vallis is also known for his band REAPER as well as a member of the live crew (keyboards) of VNV NATION, Felix Marc by the way is member of DIORAMA and runs a solo project under his own name too. http://www.frozenplasma.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/frozenplasma
Music & Performance
The show started with ‘Lift the Veil’ and from the very first tunes, the crowd was singing and dancing along. Felix dominated the stage with his expressive and emotional performance and Vasi operated the keyboards in the background. Danceable tracks like ‘Condense’, ‘Hypocrite’ or ‘Irony’ held the temper high and the crowd was enthralled. Sound and light were pleasing and after about 40 minutes finished the set with the up-beat ‘Warmongers’ what demanded the dancing abilities of the crowd again.
Setlist
01. Lift The Veil
02. Condense
03. Crossroads
04. Hypocrite
05. Generations
06. Irony
07. Warmongers
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 8
Sound: 10
Light: 9
Total: 8.9
[:SITD:]
After another short change over the crowd could welcome [:SITD:]. Bone-crunching beats, apocalyptical electro hymns and very energetic live appearances... hailing from Germanys real industrial heartland, the former coal and steel centres of the Ruhr area, [:SITD:] made a name for itself a while ago, and can be counted amongst the most acclaimed electronic projects of the present international club scene. [:SITD:] was founded in 1996 and consists now of Carsten Jacek (vocals, lyrics), Thomas 'Tom' Lesczenski (music, programming, backing vocals) and Francesco 'Frank' D'Angelo (keyboards). http://www.sitd.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/xsitdx
Music& Performance
The show started with ‘Stammheim’ from the current album ‘Bestie:Mensch’ and quickly the crowd was infected by the rousing powerful performance. The setlist included songs from the recent albums like the already mentioned ‘Stammheim’ or ‘Richtfest’ but also older songs like ‘Wake Up’ - the remix of a PSYCHOBITCH-song - or ‘Laughingstock’. As usual, Carsten sang the main part of the songs, supported by Tom with backing vocals. But for two songs Tom, took over the whole vocal parts and Carsten left the stage and came back when the songs were finished. After about 45 minutes the show finished with the legendary ‘Snuff Machinery’ which leveraged [:SITD:] in 2002 and [:SITD:] left the crowd satisfied and well-prepared for the headliner.
Setlist
01. Stammheim
02. Lebensborn
03. Rose Coloured Skies
04. Suffering In Solitude
05. Wake Up
06. Laughingstock
07. Richtfest
08. Snuff Machinery
Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 8
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 8.3
VNV Nation
Now it was time for the headliner; after more than four hours of electro music the last change over was done and the crowd expected VNV NATION. VNV NATION is an electronic music group originally from Wexford (Ireland) and London, now based in Hamburg, that combines elements of trance, synth pop and electronic body music (EBM), into what they called future pop. Earlier works also include some electro-industrial influences. The members are Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson. The "VNV" in the name stands for Victory, not Vengeance, in keeping with the group's motto, "One should strive to achieve; not sit in bitter regret". VNV NATION’s latest studio album is ‘Judgement’ and was released to the world on April 4, 2007. Containing 10 tracks, it continued the evolution of the VNV Nation sound. On April 25, 2007 at the sold-out show at The Metro in Chicago, Ronan Harris has stated that the rumours about ‘Judgement’ being the last album were false and that more was to come and that ‘Judgement’ was just the beginning. VNV NATION are Ronan Harris (music, lyrics, vocals) and Mark Jackson (drums). http://www.vnvnation.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/vnvnation
Music & Performance
For the second time on this evening, Ronan Harris entered the stage after the MODCOM solo performance four hours ago, now as the front man and mastermind of VNV NATION. But Ronan was not the only one who had to play more than one show on this day - the both live keyboard players already had played before: Vasi Vallis with FROZEN PLASMA and Tom Lesczenski with [:SITD:]. The show started powerful with ‘Chrome’ after the intro ‘Arclight’ and right away the whole crowd was clapping, singing and dancing along, really a great temper. The setlist included a lot of old well-known songs like ‘Epicenter’, ‘Legion’ or ‘Honour’, ballads like ‘The Farthest Star’ or ‘Illusion’ which was dedicated to the fan club (the VIP Nation) and recent songs like ‘Nemesis’ or ‘Perpetual’.
Ronan, as usual, ran all over the stage during his very powerful vital performance, talked to the audience and had apparently a lot of fun. The sound was excellent and the lightshow and the background projections very pleasing too. After about 60 minutes, Ronan and Mark left the stage and Tom and Vasi played a long outro before they left the stage too. The crowd of course request encores and after a short break the band came back to play two more songs - ‘Rubicon’ and ‘Standing Motion’. Again the band left the stage and after a short time only Ronan and Mark came back to perform the fantastic ‘Beloved’ - the highlight of every VNV NATION show - in twos.
After ‘Beloved’, Vasi and Tom came back too and they all together played the finally last song ‘Saviour’. It was a great finish for a great festival - nice bands, short breaks between the bands, very good sound and fantastic light during the whole evening.
Setlist
01. Arclight
02. Chrome
03. Nemesis
04. Carbon
05. Epicenter
06. The Farthest Star
07. Illusion
08. Legion Live
09. Honour 2003
10. Perpetual
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11. Rubicon
12. Standing Motion
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13. Beloved
14. Saviour
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 10
Light: 10
Total: 9.3
All pictures by Daniela Vorndran (http://www.vorndranphotography.com/ / http://www.black-cat-net.de/ / www.myspace.com/vorndranphotography)
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