VNV NATION FUTUREPERFECT ALBUM DEPENDENT, METROPOLIS, ENERGY RELEASE: JANUARY 28, 2002, FEBRUARY 8, 2002 (SCANDINAVIA) REVIEW: FEBRUARY 12, 2002

This is what we know. VNV Nation are Irish, they write good lyrics, and they make brilliant electronic dance music. On their new album "Futureperfect" not much has changed. All of the above is still true, even though Ronan Harris now lives in Germany.
"Futureperfect" takes VNV Nation mix of EBM, pop and trance further. To prove my point, I will just mention the track "Beloved". Quite possibly their best track ever. Beginning in a calm manner with warm strings and Ronan's voice, it soon becomes a whirlwind of twinkling synthesizers, driving beats and a chorus so infectious, I bet they wore plastic gloves in the studio.
The whole album has a kind of sad feeling to it. And the lyrics seem to be about the world we live in and life in general, as Martin Gore put it a whole bunch of years ago. The title itself is an ironic statement about the optimistic way we used to look at the future in the past.
There are several magnificent tracks here, such as the beautiful piano-equipped "Holding on", which is dealing with feelings of loneliness. Ronan's voice seem to have been smoothed up a notch since we last heard it. He does a wonderful job here, filling my speakers with sorrow.
"Carbon" is a torch ballad about how mankind continuously keeps on destroying the world. The ending song, "Airships", employs the same trick as "Beloved". It starts slow and builds up towards the end. This track makes the album go out on a happy note, with lyrics like "I'm leaving ground, stepping into a new world" on top of joyous melodies.
I can think of just one drawback. Sometimes it feels like I have heard it all before.
People who already like this band will love this album, I know I do! And I also think a great number of new people will discover VNV Nation with this CD.

JOHAN CARLSSON