Von Venn’s Forgetting the Fall is the kind of album that creeps up on you. Right from the opener, Still Falling, you can feel the mix of innocence and experience that runs through the whole record. Gary Cox and the Dublin crew don’t try to shout or impress with big gestures, they just tell their story, and it’s easy to get pulled in.

By the time Mainstream comes around, it’s clear the album has something to say. The track looks at how media can twist things, but it does it without sounding heavy-handed. Rebecca Lane’s sax solo is a nice touch too, a little spark that adds character. Other tracks like You Can Talk to Me feel quieter but hit just as hard, exploring relationships in a way that’s mature and relatable, not clichéd.

Musically, there’s a lot happening without it ever feeling overworked. Cox’s voice carries warmth and a bit of world-weariness, the guitars and synths blend together nicely, and Mark Wogan’s drumming keeps everything moving just right. You can hear influences from Bowie, John Lennon, Radiohead, and others, but Von Venn have a sound that feels entirely their own.

Be Free is probably the track that sticks with you the most it’s got this intimate-but-anthemic feel that’s hard to pull off, and they do it effortlessly. The album as a whole moves between reflection and energy, optimism and realism, without ever being predictable.

You can listen here.