Von Venn, the Dublin based project led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gary Cox have released their highly anticipated second album “Forgetting the Fall”. The new album follows the critical success of 2023’s “Jeanie is Out,” this new collection candidly delves into themes of lost innocence, hidden agendas, and ultimately, hope; it is not one to miss!
The album arrives at a time when many are grappling with disillusionment about the world around them. “I think the events of the last couple of years have led to a general loss of innocence with respect to world events and the bending of value systems to suit narratives,” explains Gary Cox. “We live in a world where might equals right. I reflected upon my own experience from the naïvety of youth, full of confidence that people would always do the right thing. Life taught me differently.”
Written throughout 2024 and recorded at Soundcaster Studios in Dublin with producer Terry Doyle, “Forgetting the Fall” takes listeners on an emotional arc. The journey begins with the innocence of album opener “Still Falling” and moves through the realism of tracks like “Mainstream” and “Can Talk to Me,” before arriving at the rallying cry of “Be Free.”
“Forgetting the Fall is about waking up and approaching the world with a healthy realism,” says Cox. “The challenge is to be realistic but not cynical about how people operate.”
The album’s lead single “Mainstream” tackles the partisan nature of traditional media in the modern world, examining how bias has become embedded in institutions once valued for their impartiality. The track features a standout saxophone solo written by Terry Doyle and performed by Rebecca Lane.
Three singles from the album have already made an impact. Broken 8 called “Be Free” a “rousing, necessary reminder to critically analyse the information we are given,” while Breaking and Entering praised “You Can Talk to Me” for handling “mature relationship dynamics” with rare emotional intelligence. The Other Side Reviews noted how “Only In The Night” offers “rich vocals speaking to you directly and holding out his hand, acting as an anchor and as an old friend.”
Von Venn features Gary Cox on vocals, guitars, bass, and synths; Terry Doyle on keyboards, synths, and vocals; Ciara Henry on vocals; and Mark Wogan on drums. Their sound draws from a wide range of influences including John Lennon, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Television, Jeff Buckley, Wilco, Radiohead, Melody’s Echo Chamber, and Phoenix, creating something that feels both familiar and completely fresh.