Tag: Ionic Vision

Posted on by — Leave a comment

An acoustic evening with?

Ionic Vision Live 2009-09-04I had the unique chance to see Ionic Vision live… without travelling abroad. They played at the Bar Mondial in Antwerp with Darkmen, from IV’s label Machineries of Joy (production by IV’s lead singer).

Well, the title of my note is probably a little misleading (joke!). There are probably no bigger opposites than Ionic Vision and acoustic (remember that they “Rage against” it).

I found the performance to be completely in line with the Bitter Isolation album that I already wrote about. Except maybe for the fact that certainly the vocals were less open to compromise or emotionality (too bad for Sleep e.g.). But hey, it’s the way their game is played. Their music is genuine and hardcore EBM, but luckily (for a general fan of alternative music as myself) they are more dynamic than most other EBM bands.

The show was concluded with a powerful No Shuffle (Front 242) followed by the best pogo I’ve seen in years on their final encore. Really loved the transformation of my singing friend into a fierce animal (head) on stage.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Hearing after seeing, music from Ionic Vision

I previously expressed how I was intrigued by finding that a colleague is the singer (and synth fanatic) of Ionic Vision, a Belgian EBM band. Especially as this (music) goes back to my blackened youth.

ionic-vision-bitter-isolationAnd I couldn’t let go. Wanted to dig deeper, have a better understanding of Ionic Vision (my alternative mind fighting my conformist life). So ‘hearing’ followed Vision, ionically, so to say. Inspired by an interview. Advised to check out Bitter Isolation (2008), at the crossroad of 16 years of path finding. Though I love the title Rage Against The Acoustic more.

It starts with an insect attack. The overall tempo is up and dynamic. Your body forced into high-frequency mode. Accelerations of the heart. All of this being reinforced by the continuous stream of songs. Then… suddenly, unexpected, a revealing spark of lightness. M. Manson-like ironicism. The glimpse of melodies. Ionic Vision certainly transcends the (recognizable) influences with a new and organic mixture. Pumping hydraulics. Hissing pneumatics. Pounding machinery.

I know that the sound of the bea(s)t is targeted, but in my opinion some lyrics and melodies are worthwhile spitting them out more… ironically, maybe de-humanised. Sometimes the grunting is just… heavy. But probably attractive to many others. I sense room for experiment. More (Ionic?) lightness, of singing, of instruments, of more… Gag.

Go see for yourself at iTunes. Find the omnipresent chair!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

My Vision widened to the Ionic worlds

ionic-vision-bitter-isolationHow people can surprise you! A colleague told me recently (after he saw my NIN desktop) that he’s the singer of a band, Ionic Vision (also on MySpace). Totally ‘Electronic Body Music‘.

Now, I’ ve had a very, very black youth (welcome in the 80’s), but I was never really into EBM. Not attracted by Front242 at the time, mostly because of the militaristic feel (later on learned that it’s more a guerilla intention, and that does attract me). Loved Nitzer Ebb for a while, saw them live in 1988 at Pukkelpop. But that’s about it.

You will surely recognize those 2 bands in the Ionic sound. But, hey, their machines sound great, the sound is heavy, the atmosphere is militant. Enough to make you give them control over your body?

Go find them at iTunes as well!