VNV Nation's inspiration was originally the clash of the modern and classical European cultures, where mythology and technology live in an uneasy fusion, but this has since broadened to encompass a world view. The music ranges from electronic dance music to ballads and classically inspired music. Inspirations are taken from a wide range of styles including contemporary underground club culture, industrial, trance and classical music. The lyrics draw on philosophy, religion, literature, art, politics and different forms of symbolism, although VNV Nation does not advocate any ideology. It is a metaphor for expression. The letters VNV stand for "Victory Not Vengeance". The meaning behind this stylised motto is that one should strive to achieve, not sit in bitter regret.
VNV Nation's first releases were in 1990 with two self produced vinyl releases, "Body Pulse" and "Strength of Youth" (which are now long deleted with Ronan Harris himself not having a copy). After working on some VNV Nation tracks and supporting Nitzer Ebb on tour whilst living in Toronto, Canada, Ronan returned to London and released some tracks on sampler CDs. This caught the interest of German label Discordia and in July 1995, "Advance and Follow" was released. At around about the same time, Mark Jackson joined the band.
In January 1998, VNV Nation signed with the German label, Off Beat Records, releasing their second album "Praise the Fallen" in June 1998 and the EP "Solitary EP" in September 1998. With VNV Nation increasing in popularity, they began their first headline tour in Germany in September 1998.
In 1999, the Off Beat label collapsed, leading to VNV Nation (along with other artists such as Covenant, Suicide Commando and Velvet Acid Christ) collaborating with Stefan Herwig (a former A&R manager with Off Beat) to create Dependent Records. In late 1999, the album "Empires" was released, staying at number 1 in the German Alternative Chart (DAC) for seven weeks, and winning the award for DAC Album of the Year.
From "Empires" two singles were released "Darkangel", which tops the DAC for 5 weeks in mid 1999 and "Standing", which stays at no.1 in the DAC for 8 weeks in early 2000 (the maximum a single can remain in the DAC) winning a German Alternative Music Award for most successful single of 2000 and sharing the place for most successful single in the DAC's history with the Chemical Brothers. A limited edition of the "Standing" single was also released entitled "Standing / Burning Empires" which contained alternate versions and remixes by VNV Nation of tracks from "Empires". This remains one of the most sought after VNV rarities, fetching large sums on auction sites, although it has recently been released on iTunes to allow casual listeners to purchase it.
In March 2001, "Advance and Follow v2" was released as a limited edition, which was a remastered and partially re-recorded version of the original 1995 album "Advance and Follow". The band were never particularly happy with the first album due to it being recorded in less than a week, so the release was seen by the band as a way to put that right.
In October 2001, VNV Nation embarked on their "Futureperfect" tour of Europe and North America, promoting the album "Futureperfect" which was released in January 2002. It reached number 25 in the full German Album Charts, with the single "Beloved" reaching number 60 in the full German Singles Chart. Following the release of "Beloved", VNV Nation part ways with Dependant and create their own label "Anachron Records".
In June 2003, the Honour 2003 EP is released, promoting the "Pastperfect" live DVD, which following many delays and problems was finally released in May 2004. Following this the rest of 2004 and beginning of 2005 was spent producing the album "Matter and Form", which was released in April 2005. Preceeding the album release, one of the tracks "Chrome" was sold in March 2005 as a download on the VNV Nation website, as well as iTunes.
In April 2007, the album "Judgement" was released, and an extensive world tour in support of the album followed. In January 2009, VNV Nation published their plans for 2009 on their website, indicating that the long delayed "Reformation" EP would be available, but now as a full "CD Pack". Also due for release in 2009 is the new album entitled "Of Faith, Power and Glory".
In November 2017 Mark Jackson left the band to "pursue other paths in life".
To read more about Ronan Harris and his motivations behind the band and 2009's "Of Faith, Power and Glory," please visit http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/interview-ronan-harris-of-vnv
Teleconnect Pt. 1
VNV Nation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To pull away the veil of time
To find the path from which we strayed
To destinations far and wide
Electric streets and railway lines
A line of stations to guide us home
Beneath the metal towers
Bear silent witness to a golden age
Glowing wireless light the night
And so we tuned ourselves away
To the lonely songs of satellites
Voices from distant cities tell
Of empires conquered in our minds
And heroes of the world to come
Take me back before the years
Before the colors start to fade
Fraction of a grain of time
Is all I need so you might understand
I would not falter, I wouldn't hesitate
The generators never rest
Turbines drive the onward march of time
Onward and forward, to another day
Engines of a forgotten time
Electric streets and city lights
To the highways that will guide us home
Beneath the signal towers
Machines of intricate design
Bear silent witness to the golden age
Glowing wireless light the night
And so we tuned ourselves away
To the lonely songs of satellites
Voices from distant cities tell
Of empires conquered in our minds
And heroes of the world to come
Take me back before the years
Before the colors start to fade
Before the colors start to fade
The lyrics of Teleconnect Pt. 1 by VNV Nation are about nostalgia, the desire to return to a time when life seemed simpler and the present was new and exciting. The opening lines, "Show me the ways, give me the means, to pull away the veil of time, to find the path from which we strayed, to destinations far and wide," suggest a longing for the past, to understand how things have changed and to rediscover the wonders that once existed. The references to "electric streets and railway lines, a line of stations to guide us home" evoke a bygone era of futuristic technology and optimism.
The second verse continues with the theme of technological progress, describing "machines of radiant design" and "glowing wireless light" that once inspired wonder and hope. However, the chorus suggests a certain sadness that these marvels have faded away, and with them, the dreams they once inspired. The verses culminate with the lines "Take me back before the years, before the colors start to fade," conveying a desire to return to a past that now exists only in memory.
Overall, Teleconnect Pt. 1 is a wistful meditation on the passage of time, the inevitable loss of wonder and the desire to return to a time when the possibilities of the future seemed endless.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me the ways, give me the means
Help me find a path to the past
To pull away the veil of time
To uncover the truth
To find the path from which we strayed
To rediscover a lost way
To destinations far and wide
To explore uncharted territories
Electric streets and railway lines
Modern technology that guides us
A line of stations to guide us home
A map that helps us navigate
Beneath the metal towers
Underneath towering structures
Machines of radiant design
Beautifully crafted equipment
Bear silent witness to a golden age
Remember a prosperous era
Glowing wireless light the night
Bright technology that illuminates the darkness
And so we tuned ourselves away
We focused on distant signals instead
To the lonely songs of satellites
To the lonesome transmissions in the sky
Voices from distant cities tell
Reports of different worlds
Of empires conquered in our minds
Of imaginary civilizations
And heroes of the world to come
And legends yet to be made
Take me back before the years
Let me relive the past
Before the colors start to fade
Before memories and experiences fade away
Fraction of a grain of time
A small moment in history
Is all I need so you might understand
Just enough time to explain myself
I would not falter, I wouldn't hesitate
I am determined and fearless
The generators never rest
Source of endless power
Turbines drive the onward march of time
Machines that push forward progress
Onward and forward, to another day
Moving ahead to the future
Engines of a forgotten time
Technology that has been left behind
Electric streets and city lights
Modern power sources
To the highways that will guide us home
To a path towards a peaceful future
Beneath the signal towers
Below the transmission hubs
Machines of intricate design
Complicated technology
Before the colors start to fade
Before the vibrancy of life fades away
Contributed by Liliana L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Beats of Zion
Show me the ways, give me the means
To pull away the veil of time
To find the path from which we strayed
To destinations far and wide
Electric streets and railway lines
A line of stations to guide us home
Beneath the metal towers
Machines of radiant design
Bear silent witness to a golden age
Glowing wireless light the night
And so we tuned ourselves away
To the lonely songs of satellites
Voices from distant cities tell
Of empires conquered in our minds
And heroes of the world to come
Take me back before the years
Before the colors start to fade
Fraction of a grain of time
Is all I need so you might understand
I would not falter, I wouldn't hesitate
The generators never rest
Turbines drive the onward march of time
Onward and forward, to another day
Engines of a forgotten time
Electric streets and city lights
To the highways that will guide us home
Beneath the signal towers
Machines of intricate design
Bear silent witness to the golden age
Glowing wireless light the night
And so we tuned ourselves away
To the lonely songs of satellites
Voices from distant cities tell
Of empires conquered in our minds
And heroes of the world to come
Take me back before the years
Before the colors start to fade
Before the colors start to fade
herthaner hanne
one of the best by vnv nation love it
cantforgetyou
I wanted to write the same words.
Jorge Rodriguez
My new anthem! Every song of vnv nation is a beautiful ode to life!
ColinIngus1
True.
Its funny how so many of their songs have comments stating "this is THE BEST by VNV" and I have to agree with all of them.
cantforgetyou
One of the best emotional songs from VNV nation. Super production and arrangements and synths.
Beats of Zion
Show me the ways, give me the means
To pull away the veil of time
To find the path from which we strayed
To destinations far and wide
Electric streets and railway lines
A line of stations to guide us home
Beneath the metal towers
Machines of radiant design
Bear silent witness to a golden age
Glowing wireless light the night
And so we tuned ourselves away
To the lonely songs of satellites
Voices from distant cities tell
Of empires conquered in our minds
And heroes of the world to come
Take me back before the years
Before the colors start to fade
Fraction of a grain of time
Is all I need so you might understand
I would not falter, I wouldn't hesitate
The generators never rest
Turbines drive the onward march of time
Onward and forward, to another day
Engines of a forgotten time
Electric streets and city lights
To the highways that will guide us home
Beneath the signal towers
Machines of intricate design
Bear silent witness to the golden age
Glowing wireless light the night
And so we tuned ourselves away
To the lonely songs of satellites
Voices from distant cities tell
Of empires conquered in our minds
And heroes of the world to come
Take me back before the years
Before the colors start to fade
Before the colors start to fade
herthaner hanne
one of the best songs ever heard vnv nation the greatest love ye ever more
Team Skull Grunt
If I ever create a camping/urban exploration playlist this beautiful track is one of the first ones going on it.
Eto Medo
What a brilliant song! Such depth and beauty!
herthaner hanne
one of the greatest fantastic !!!! kind regards from berlin