VONO – Modern Leben (Reissue) – LP – Vinyl [FEB 28]

LP – Limited Edition

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 B‘s much-needed reissue of their minimal and masterful debut LP ‘Dinner Fr 2‘. 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.

From here, VONO’s sound continued to evolve, coalescing into the hulking EBM roar of 1986’s ‘It’s 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.

Tracklist:

A1. Ich Steh Im Regen [3:10]
A2. Modern Leben [3:58]
A3. Und Niemand Weiss [3:15]
A4. Automaten [2:59]
A5. Bin Ein Jeder Hat Ihn Gern Boy [2:23]
A6. Nachtwanderer [2:43]

B1. Du Siehst So Gut Aus [2:59]
B2. Wenn Du Mich Ksst [3:19]
B3. Hurra! [2:05]
B4. Geniess Den Morgen [2:31]
B5. Fred Der Ritter [1:53]
B6. Weil Nicht Sein Kann [3:31]
B7. Moench In Kina [2:11]