Modern Leben [LP]

Vono - Modern Leben [LP]

LP version. After a couple of decades dancing in the dark, Berlin brothers Norbert and Volker Schultze finally found their way back into the spotlight via Bureau Bs much-needed reissue of their minimal and masterful debut LP Dinner Fur 2 (BB 277CD). Now the Hamburg imprint turn their attention to the second VONO LP, Modern Leben, which found the brothers Schultze expanding on the stark palette of their debut, adding spiky fretwork and muscular rock chords to their infectious synth-lines and efficient rhythms for an altogether heftier sound. On Modern Leben, VONO confidently stepped out of the minimalism of their debut, diving headlong into a bold blend of German post-punk, synth pop, and rock influences. Across its 13 tracks, the Schultze brothers offered a kaleidoscope of moods and textures, from brooding gloom-tunes to moments of brighter optimism, crafting an album that feels both cohesive and adventurous. The opener, Ich steh im Regen, sets the tone with its effective simplicity: a crisp drum machine, a restrained bassline, and a smooth croon that calls to mind early Japan or Roxy Music. On Bin Ein Jeder Hat Ihn Gern Boy, taut guitar chops and a brooding synth bass create a simmering tension, sustained by twisted electronics as the track unfolds. The A-side closes on an uplifting note with Nachtwanderer, its sweeping synth washes evoking a sense of hope as it transitions into a widescreen, cinematic finish. The B-side opens with the DAF-t duality of Du Siehst So Gut Aus, its lyrical list of compliments yelped over aggressive electro-punk backing, before the romantic Wenn Du Mich Kusst cartwheels further towards playfulness via stomping beats and bombastic melodies. The slower Hurra introduces greyscale synth stabs and growled vocals, adding an ominous layer to the albums diverse sound, which takes a further detour via the percolating rhythms and almost tropical tones of Genieß den Morgen. VONOs sound continued to evolve, coalescing into the hulking EBM roar of 1986s Its Time before the duo dissolved. So much like its creators, Modern Leben is an album that thrives on contrasts, seamlessly moving between stark post-punk grit and expansive synth-pop melodies, while maintaining the intensity and edge that runs through all three of their albums. 01. Ich steh im Regen 02. Modern Leben 03. Und niemand weiß 04. Automaten 05. Bin ein jeder hat ihn gern Boy 06. Nachtwanderer 07. Du siehst so gut aus 08. Wenn du mich kusst 09. Hurra 10. Genieß den Morgen 11. Fred der Ritter 12. Weil nicht sein kann 13. Monch in Kina