Verneblung – Ready To Drown (Album – Blackjack Illuminist Records)
Genre/Influences: Dream-Pop, Trip-Pop, Dark-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.
Background/Info: Verneblung is a German duo this year releasing their debut album on Blackjack Illuminist Records. “Ready To drown” has been defined by the label as ‘Death-Pop’. The work comes two years after their self-released EP “Alles Wie Immer”.
Content: The sound of this band is not easy to define. It rather sounds as a mix between different, related influences. There’s a strong 80s wink, which emerges from Dream-Pop and Dark/Electro-Wave influences. The global mood hanging over the work is also pretty dark and even desperate. But there’s also a more Trip-Pop approach injecting a modern touch to the work. The vocals have been sung in German and English.
+ + + : Nadin Klein’s timbre of voice has something sensual and bewitching. She for sure injects a true spirit in the sound of Verneblung. The sensual touch has been accentuated by the slow cadence of the rhythm. The main strength of this band is that they’ve developed a unique style, mixing 80s with contemporary influences.
– – – : The global writing process of the songs can be more elaborated and is maybe the main point to improve on further releases.
Conclusion: Verneblung or the imaginary hybrid between The Human League and Goldfrapp.
Best songs: “Cracked Puppet”, “Immer Dann”, “Ready To Drown”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/Verneblung
Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist
About Verneblung
Verneblung is a German duo formed in 2018, made up of Nadin Klein on vocals and Adnan Abbas on music. Side-Line reported at the time of the debut that the pair came together in the rural surroundings of Cologne, pairing the city’s breakcore underground with Klein’s interest in the blues of Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Discogs lists the duo under Neuwied, Germany, and files them under punk and electro.
Their first release was the self-issued digital EP "Alles Wie Immer" in 2019. Two years later Blackjack Illuminist Records, based in Königs Wusterhausen, Germany, issued the eight-track debut album "Ready To Drown" on CDr in a handmade sleeve, on a swimming-pool-blue cassette limited to fifteen copies, and as a download. "Cracked Puppet" was released as the first single with a video.
In October 2021 Verneblung and label-mate Vlimmer both took part in "Nevermind Reworks", a Nirvana cover album assembled by Blackjack Illuminist Records. The review above covers the debut album that preceded it.
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