VNV Nation’s latest album, Judgement, arrived in the mail the other day. I was very excited to listen to it, because i’ve enjoyed all their previous albums this album is just as good and ties with my other two favorites, Matter and Form, and Futureperfect. The lyrcs are deep and meaningful and a lot of them deal with the sadness of how there is so much destruction and war and sadness in the world, and also a hope that there might be better days of happiness and peace.

One set of lyrics i really liked is on the song The Farthest Star:

We possess the power

if this should start to fall apart

to mend divides, to change the world

to reach the farthest star

If we should stay silent

if fear should win our hearts,

our light will have long diminished

before it reaches the farthest star

That really affected me when i first heard it because i’ve always been silent and fearful. But it motivated me to try harder to not fear and not be silent anymore

Musically, many of the songs are very beat driven and easy to dance to, but some are slower songs that are more relaxing. All of them are electronic sounding. I like the very last instrumental song, As it Fades–it sounds like it belongs in the Lord of the Rings movies during a peaceful scene in one of the elf lands–it’s very nice sounding The band’s website has sound samples of most of the songs. Just click on Products

My brother got me Neuroactive’s newest album, N-Gin, for my birthday this year. It’s become my favorite album of the band. Although the band is now just the one original guy, J. Tuohimaa, who had created Neuroactive 10ish years ago. The lead singer decided to leave after the previous album, Transients, which was also very good. In N-Gin, Tuohimaa invited some other synthpop singers for vocals in some of the songs. Tuohimaa also sings in my favorite song of the album, New Sensation. Neuroactive has a very organic electronic sound. Organic, meaning… uhm.. well, it’s hard to explain, and i’m not exactly sure if “organic” is the correct word to use to describe it. The music is synthy, dancy, electronic sounding with hard beats. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Amazon has some sound samples you can download for a good example of the sound i was badly describing Unfortunately, none of the samples are off of N-Gin. Recommended!

Covenant’s Skyshaper album is coming out pretty soon. their website has some samples of what might or might not be on the album. nonetheless, they sound very cool i can’t wait for it to be released this autumn!