VEiiLA – “Sentimental Craving for Beauty”

VEiiLA’s sophomore album, Sentimental Craving for Beauty, was released on September 8, 2023; through the world renowned, Projekt Records label, out of Portland, Oregon, US.

Sentimental Craving for Beauty, is an intriguing album in a number of ways. The most intriguing value comes from the story surrounding the development of VEiiLA. The band was founded not in their current home of Vanadzor, Armenia; but in the country of Russia, around 2015. The musical duo, of Vif Nüte, (the lead singer and guitarist), and Bes Eirid, (who plays keyboards and synths), that make up VEiiLA; fled to Armenia, when Russia invaded Ukraine. It absolutely tore their lives apart.

According to the band, “They were not willing to support the ugly war and the horrible autocratic regime, and so, Vif nüte and Bes Eirid packed their lives in a couple of suitcases, left their homes and embarked on a journey without destination. Calling themselves in the fashion of the late Kurt Vonnegut, “a band without a country.” As modern Russian dissidents they tasted the bitter liquor of disappointment, blended with a healthy dose of morbid, soul-crushing realization: that the world is in fact as ugly as it gets”.

VEiiLA plays a version of dark cold wave, downtempo, and alternative pop, usually associated with electronic, bleak house, dream pop, and trip hop, music. Their music is most associated with bands, like: Emika, The XX, and Sevdaliza.

The band describes themselves as outcasts. “Never belonging to any niche, they spent their time crafting their own brand of sensual melancholic music driven by Vif’s uncategorizable voice and devastating existential poetry”. They describe Sentimental Craving for Beauty, as, “the artistic equivalent of a Venus flytrap — hidden under seductive layers of mellow electronics, translucent guitars, soft enthralling percussion, synth bass and Vif’s tantalizing, alluring vocals that dwell in the paralyzing vapors of venomous despair, hopelessness and ultimate surrender to the unavoidable and inevitable pain of human suffering. Like falling into the bottomless abyss of broken dreams with a fool’s hope of catching a glimpse of beauty along the way”. The band name, VEiiLA is pronounced “Vay-la.” It’s a stylized reference to a Baltic mountain-dwelling demon that lures men into her cave by singing and then devours them.

As VEiiLA themselves put it: “We wanted to simply find some ground and not fall into the abyss. We just couldn’t breathe, couldn’t sleep, and we needed something not to go insane. So we spent more time playing the instruments and less time staring at the screen, and somehow the album wrote itself. It was a good distraction. Is it more than that? Maybe it will speak to someone, inspire someone, or at least make some miserable wretch across the globe — who like Steppenwolf is torn between fear and the razor — feel less lonely, knowing that there are at least two souls of the same sort on this planet.”

The idea for the title, Sentimental Craving For Beauty, which, (traditionally a literary reference, this time to Galsworthy’s Forsyte Saga), initially meant something bright and hopeful to the band. Thus the album rose from the ashes in a purer rectified form.

Their first playful jams and a few underground gigs in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg led to playing massive festivals, winning local band contests and opening for their teen idols Kosheen (as well as The Neighborhood and Alex Clare). But it wasn’t until 2020 when the project finally solidified into something real and the band presented their debut album The Nation Of One, with a CD release on the experimental British label Wormhole World. The album received positive reviews from music critics. Influential British magazine Louder Than War particularly praised “the remarkable voice which soars, pleads and chants in equal measures and with hypnotic intensity.”

Ok, enough of an intro for this new band, now on to the music….

“Can’t Forgive Myself”, is the album opener and one of the best songs on the album. The song investigates themes of regret. As the band says, “Regret of a specific quality caused by childlike naivety mistaking cynical manipulations of the grown-up world for genuine kindness and decency. Everyone gets to this epiphany when growing up, and almost everyone manages to grow a thick layer of skin — vigilant skepticism with scoffing disdain for the mere idea of purity. But what about those who don’t grow up? Those whose innocent beliefs survive and linger? Those who cherish their immature idealism to the last, forever opposing it to the vulgarity of real life? Well, life is life and sooner or later everyone has to face it”. Vif Nüte, sings vocalizations and plays slow electric guitar chords, until she unleashes her first real lyrics, “Can’t forgive my… How can you stand yourself. When I buy the lies you sell. Does it see you through. Don’t fool don’t fool don’t fool yourself. You just repeat what someone said. There’s only one regret. How could I have been so blind. Such a hypocrite”; while Bes Eirid, plays keyboards and synths, and electric drum patterns. The calming effect of the music soothes the difficult effects of facing reality, though the lyrics. The Gary Newman/Depeche Mode – like keyboards are superb, and innovative, though they bring back memories of the best of the ‘80s synth.

“I Had A Dream”, is another of the best songs on the album. Vif Nüte sings, “I had a friend. His name was solitude. He could understand me. Better than anyone could. That link was broken. Too many people inside my head. They never stop talking. Maybe they’ll stop only when I’m dead. I had a dream. But time has taken its toll. So it would seem. The stone was bound to fall. I kissed goodbye. Too so many beautiful dreams. And the night’s crawling by. And the voices turn into screams”. A difficult remembrance of when things were good, now that trouble times have arrived. The beautiful keyboards which play throughout the song, soothe the riveting pain from the lyrics. Everything moves along smooth, until Vif Nüte plays those Chris Isaac – like guitar chords, and then the darker keyboard patterns emerge.

“Broken Toy”, opens with more of that wonderful Chris Isaac – like guitar sounds, which remind me of a morning sunrise. Then Vif Nüte sings, “Am I a broken toy if I just can’t find. The right way the right way. Everyone around me is color blind. Do I go do I stay. Maybe it’ll never be the same. Maybe I’ll never see that day. But I’ll make it happy. Maybe it’ll be divine. Maybe I’ll never see the light. But I’ll make it happy”. Then, a return to those guitar chords I mentioned earlier. Meanwhile, Bes Eirid, tempers things with those Vangelis – like keyboard sounds.

“Another Day”, has a cool lounge ballad sound to it. It is full of melancholic detachment. Vif’s soft vocals sing, “I wish I were as strong as once I thought I was.

I wish I could allow myself to take a pause. To touch the ground and bounce up. And take your hand and find the words to cheer you up. But every night. I’m searching in my mind. For something I can say. To live another day. And every day.

I’m running out of lines. I just pretend I’m fine. I wish I could erase it all and start anew. Adjust the angle for a better point of you. And break the spell breath in the air. And look into your eyes and see that you’re not scared”. Those wonderful guitar chords return and almost bring a rain of tears.

“Furnace”, opens with a happier keyboard melody. Vif Nüte sings, “Some things stay. Some are easily forgotten. But when it comes to pain. It’s always new, it’s always bright. And when the new waves rise. It takes me by surprise. But after all those years. Why do I even bother? In the chamber of my mind. I try in vain to cut the binds. In the furnace of my soul. I burn my hopes like black coal. In the oven of my heart. I hope to turn my pain to art. But in the end when I’m alone. I wonder why I’m cold as stone?” If you are having a hard time with the lyrics, just remember what these two musicians gave up. They walked out of their hoe, and homeland, because some leader decided to invade neighbors in the Ukraine.

“Cool”, is full of unique keyboards and synths pattern which will stimulate your brain as Vif Nüte sings, “I see right through you. You got no clue. You think you play me. While I play you. Inside you’re rotten. Don’t waste your time, yeah. Rules, yeah, you got ’em. Not me cause I’m. Tired of your bogus exultations. Sick of your caustic implications. I see that baby you’ve got patience, but. I’d rather drop this conversation”. The guitar work and especially the keyboards are wonderful on this song.

“Push the Pedal”, is another one of my favorite songs on the album. It has one of the coolest keyboard and synth patterns on the album. Absolute magic. Then, Vif Nüte sings, “Out of side and out of mind. All those years I left behind. One more try to get it right. It’s getting harder. Push the pedal to the floor. Make me cry and beg for more. Words mean nothing anymore. Just push it harder. There’s a chance we gotta take it. Time won’t last another second. I can’t wait”.

“Do You Hear Me”, is full of more unique keyboard playing, before Vif Nüte sings, “I’m closing the door. I’m facing myself. I’m closing myself. I’m facing the wall. I’m waiting inside. I’m biding my time. I’m leaving behind. What burdens my mind. Farewell. Do you hear me? I’m closing the door. I’m facing myself. I’m closing myself. I’m facing the wall”.

“Made of Air”, has that wonderful crying guitar chord at the opening which is classic Chris Isaac. Then, Vif Nüte sings, “The roads are frozen. But I’ve gone too far. I can see with my eyes closed. What they are. I can hear them calling. I can feel their touch. I’m fading slowly. Did I ask too much? I am not a ghost. But then why does it feel. Like I’m made of air. Like nobody sees me. Like I’m not even there. But my heart ain’t broken. And my dream ain’t lost’ This song also has one of the album’s best guitar solos towards the end.

“Ocean’s Breath”, is my favorite song on the album. It is full of the sound of the ocean at its opening. Vif Nüte does some very cool vocalizations at the song’s opening. Then she sings, “Today we breathe. Today we choose. To live, to love. To fight. Against the whole world. Isn’t beautiful? My…Do you see this chaos. Do you taste the menace. This is what we’re made of. Keep breathing. We can win this fight. The ocean surrounds us. The last ray of light. Ocean!” Those haunting “Ahs”, from Nüte throughout are simply magic!

“Common Decency”, is another of my favorite songs on the album. You gotta love the title. The dark, mysterious keyboard opening is one of the best on the album. Then, Vif Nüte sings, “Six weeks passed I care for no one. Everyone who knows me knows it. Yesterday I couldn’t sleep. Today I can’t wake up. I can’t recall the smell of roses. Everyone who knows me knows it. I’m in the quicksand way too deep. It never seems to stop. Six years passed I still need no one. Everyone who knows me knows it. I don’t even ask myself anymore. What I’m living for. Yeah, I’m not sure there is a meaning. I guess I should stop dreaming. There is no one out there. Behind that door. Common decency. Keeps me company. I won’t give in!”

“My Blues”, opens with a bluesy guitar chord at the opening. Then, Vif Nüte sings, “My blues. Beyond my control. Yeah, them blues. Beyond my control. They will watch me drown. In the sea of moonlight. Yeah, they watch me drown. In the sea of moonlight. Never give up. They say. Never give up. They pray. Never give up!”

“Sick to the Bone”, is the closing song on Sentimental Craving for Beauty. It is also the longest song at over 6 minutes. The opening guitar playing is dreamy and thought provoking. The belled chimes and keyboards elicit an almost joy in their play. Then, Vif Nüte sings, “Never have I ever felt so. Sick to the bone, sick to the bone. Never have I ever felt so. Sick to the bone. I see paradise in my wicked dreams. I open my eyes and I can’t take it in. And when I touch the ground. Will you be by my side? Have I lost my last chance. A-a-a-a. When words stop making sense. Will you still follow me. If this is our last chance. Let’s hold our hands!”

Sentimental Craving for Beauty is a wonderful album to listen to with headphones. Vif Nüte’s voice is both hypnotizing and haunting throughout this album. Her voice and guitar playing, coupled well with Bes Eirid’s keyboard and synth playing, make this album a delight to listen to at any time of day, but especially when you are relaxing in the evening. It is one of my favorite albums of this early part of the year. I suggest it to anyone in search of something completely different.

Even though some of the lyrics and stories told within the album are sad, imagine what these two musicians have been through during the time this album was written. You can feel the loneliness and fear that they encountered; in a land they did not know. Walking away from the only home and country you have known, to try to do a full restart in a foreign land, with maybe no acquaintances or no one to support and love or care for you, is definitely a very difficult road. I hope they will be settled more when they create their next album. Despite the sadness they went through, the music has an ethereal wonder and journey of discovery to it.

The final intrigue about the album is VEiiLA’s ability to persevere through the unknown, and the barriers which they certainly encountered, their ability to continue to search for a Sentimental Craving for Beauty. Andthat, to me is well worth the effort endured.