So far, 2009 has been better than 2008 as far as releases go, but only by a slight margin. Here is a list of the albums released in 2009 that I have purchased:
Apoptygma Berzerk -
Rocket Science
Seabound -
When Black Beats Blue [Rarities]
Assemblage 23 -
Early, Rare and Unreleased, Vol 2
KMFDM -
Blitz
Skold vs KMFDM
Julien-K -
Death To Analog
Project Pitchfork -
Dream, Tiresias!
Funker Vogt -
Warzone K17 (Live In Berlin)
And One -
Bodypop 1 1/2
VNV Nation -
Reformation 1
T.H.D. -
Subconscious Drip E.P.
However, it is not the quantities of albums that are released, it is the quality of the albums released. According to my taste, the album that is the best of those is the new
And One, which is three all-new songs, two alternative versions, and nine live covers of popular 80's synthpop songs.
The next best album(s) are the two released from
KMFDM,
Blitz and
Skold VS KMFDM. These releases saw the reunion of
Sascha Konietzko with
Tim Skold.
Skold left the group in 2002 to work with
Marylin Manson as bass player in 2003's
GOLDEN AGE OF THE GROTESQUE, and subsequently wrote and produced the music for the 2007 album "
Eat Me, Drink Me." The addition of Skold to the KMFDM lineup, while he doesn't make a vocal appearance, does add a certain je ne sais quoi to the sound. I unfairly lump the two releases Blitz and Skold vs KMFDM together in my mind, but they both deserve special attention individually.
It also wouldn't be fair to say that the new
Apoptygma Berzerk album isn't good. It is different, a further departure from the
futurepop sound that was established early in the decade. Their departure from the futurepop aesthetic is further proof that no band can be contained within a single genre label.
One of the most anticipated EP's of the last half-decade is
VNV Nation's
Reformation 1. The first disc is a live album from the
Judgment tour. The second disc contains remixes, unreleased tracks, and the soundtrack from the Gene Generation. The highlight from this release is the previously unreleased track
Precipice. It is beautifully reminiscent of older VNV Nation, but still somehow fits into the post-
Futureperfect era of VNV Nation's career.
This is a brief overview of some of the releases I have picked up from the
electro-
industrial/
ebm/
futurepop genre. I recommend checking out the four I have reviewed, as well as the others listed. After all, you shouldn't take my word as gospel, your taste may not be in sync with my own.
Looking Ahead:
---------------------
VNV Nation -
Of Faith, Power and Glory
Informatik -
Arena
Covenant -
Modern Ruin
New Albums from
Assemblage 23,
Encephalon,
Front Line Assembly
Septic VIII
And with the revival of
Dependent Records, there are sure to be some excellent releases starting in September including a new project called
KiloWatts & Vanek which Dependent owner Stefan Herwig has expressed a great deal of enthusiasm.
Funker Vogt
