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Funkstorung_promoshot.jpg
Image © 2004 Marek Vogel
Funkstörung (German for "transmission interference", sometimes also spelt Funkstorung or, more rarely, Funkstoerung) is Christian de Luca and Michael Fakesch, a duo of IDM producers hailing from Rosenheim, Germany. They are known for rhythmically complex but melody driven music, similar to the late 1990s work of Autechre, although their latest work incorporates elements of Hip Hop as well as pop music. They also do a lot of remix work, their portfolio including top-level artists such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Wu-Tang Clan and Björk. Two of the four Funkstörung albums are collection of remixes for other artists.
One strong point of Funkstörungs' releases has always been their cover art and design, often by The Designers Republic. This attention to graphic design was taken to its logical conclusion when they released Isolated. Triple Media. in 2004, a 160-page artbook and a DVD with graphics and music videos related to Disconnected. Both de Luca and Fakesch have released solo albums, most of them on their own Musik aus Strom label.
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Band biography
The duo reportedly first met in 1992, when de Luca DJed on a techno party organised by Fakesch. Their diverse musical backgrounds (Hip Hop and Heavy Metal) notwithstanding, they initially produced straight minimalist techno under the name Musik Aus Strom (German for music made of electricity) and signed for a six-album deal to Unit Moebius' label Bunker Records/Acid Planet in 1994. Acid Planet was unable to release anything until 1996 due to monetary constraints, however, and de Luca and Fakesch adopted the name Funkstörung and used the moniker Musik Aus Strom for their own label, on which they released a few EPs with a new, more melodic and rhythmically complex IDM sound. After more EPs on the Compost and Chocolate Industries labels and a series of high profile remixes for Björk and Wu-Tang Clan, they finally signed to !K7 Records. There, their style evolved further, including more collaborations with MCs, making them an innovator in modern Hip Hop production. On their latest album Disconnected, they added some distinctly pop-orientated songs, featuring guest vocalists Lou Rhodes (of Lamb), Sarah Jay (known for her work with Massive Attack) and Enik. Disconnected also served as the launch pad for their project Isolate. A series of photographs was made available on their website, and visitors were encouraged to alter them and send them back. The results, including both still graphics and videos to Disconnected tracks, were published as the book/DVD combination Isolated. Triple Media. in 2004.
Discography
| Title | Format | Label | Catalog number | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godzilla vs. Metalhead | Single | Acid Planet | 15 | 1995 | vinyl only |
| Untitled | Mini-album | Acid Planet | 11 | 1996 | |
| Untitled | Mini-album | Acid Planet | 12 | 1996 | |
| Untitled | Mini-album | Acid Planet | 13 | 1996 | |
| Untitled | Mini-album | Acid Planet | 14 | 1996 | |
| Elektromotor | Mini-album | Acid Planet | 18 | 1996 | |
| Untitled | EP | Musik Aus Strom | 1.08 | 1996 | vinyl only |
| break.art | EP | Musik Aus Strom | 2.09 | 1996 | vinyl only |
| Artificial garbage | EP | Interr-fered Communications | HM1205 | 1997 | vinyl only |
| Funkentstört | EP | Compost | 031-1 | 1997 | vinyl only |
| Sonderdienste | EP | Compost | 045-1 | 1997 | vinyl only |
| post.art | EP | Chocolate Industries | 002 | 1998 | |
| björkmitfunkstörung | EP | FatCat records | 005 | 1998 | Remixes of the Björk track All is full of love |
| Additional Productions | Album | !K7 Records | !K7028 | 1999 | A collection of remixes |
| Appetite for Disctruction | Album | !K7 Records | !K7087 | 2000 | |
| Multiple Grammy Winners | EP | !K7 Records | !K7087EP | 2000 | Remixes of the "Appetite for Disctruction" track Grammy Winners |
| Vice Versa | Album | !K7 Records | !K7108 | 2001 | Another collection of remixes |
| Disconnected/Fat Camp Feva | EP | !K7 Records | !K7162EP | 2004 | Remixes of two "Disconnected" album tracks |
| Disconnected | Album | !K7 Records | !K7162 | 2004 | |
| Moon Addicted/Chopping Heads | EP | !K7 Records | !K7171EP | 2004 | Two "Disconnected" album tracks and two unreleased tracks |
| Isolated. Triple Media. | Book/DVD | !K7 / Die Gestalten Verlag | !K7162 Book*+*DVD | 2004 | Actually a book, ISBN 3899551079. Was titled "Most beautiful sleeve of 2004" by The Guardian ([1] (http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1374952,00.html)). |
External links
- funkstorung.com - official website
- discogs.com article (http://www.discogs.com/artist/Funkst%F6rung)
- Template:Allmusicguide
References
- laut.de, laut.de | Funkstörung (Biographie) (http://www.laut.de/wortlaut/artists/f/funkstoerung/biographie/index.htm), retrieved on March 7, 2005
- Funkstörung, Funkstörung Discography 2004 (.doc format) (http://funkstorung.com/munication/downloads/funkDisco2004.doc), retrieved on March 7, 2005
- Funkstörung, Funkstörung Biography (.doc format) (http://funkstorung.com/munication/downloads/fnkstngBioEng.doc), retrieved on March 7, 2005de:Funkstörung