Von Venn have returned with new album “Forgetting the Fall” and it is one I have had on repeat. The album opens with “Still Falling,” and right away you can hear where Cox is coming from. There’s this sense of looking back at who you used to be, before the world showed you its harsher edges. It sets up everything that follows: a journey from naïveté to a more clear-eyed understanding of how things actually work.

Cox handles disillusionment without tipping into bitterness. “Mainstream” might be the best example of this. The song takes on media bias and institutional failure, topics that could easily sound preachy or heavy handed, but instead it comes across as honest frustration from someone who expected better. That saxophone solo from Rebecca Lane cuts right through the middle of the track and gives it this urgency that lifts the whole thing.

The relationship songs here feel grown up in a way you don’t hear often. “You Can Talk to Me” deals with actual communication breakdowns between people who care about each other, not some romanticized version of love. “Only In The Night” hits different late at night when you’re alone with your thoughts. Cox sings like he’s right there in the room with you, offering genuine comfort rather than empty platitudes.

The production from Terry Doyle at Soundcaster Studios lets everything breathe. Nothing feels cluttered or overdone. Also, the keyboards and synths add texture without overwhelming the songs, and Mark Wogan’s drumming pushes things forward without being showy about it. Ciara Henry’s vocal contributions add depth in all the right places.

“Forgetting the Fall” is the kind of album that reveals more with each listen. First time through, you pick up on the melodies and the general mood. By the third or fourth spin, you’re catching lyrics you missed before and noticing small details in the arrangements. It’s a record about losing innocence but finding clarity, and it manages to do that without losing hope entirely.

You can listen here.