| Funkstörung | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Rosenheim, Germany |
| Genres | IDM Glitch Techno |
| Years active | 1996–2006 |
| Labels | !K7 |
| Website | funkstorung.com |
| Past members | |
| Chris de Luca Michael Fakesch |
|
Funkstörung (German for "radio interference",[1] sometimes also spelt Funkstorung[2]) is Christian de Luca (born 11 May 1974) and Michael Fakesch (born 8 March 1975), a duo of IDM musicians (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. Three of the seven 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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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/Glitch sound. After more EPs on the Compost and Chocolate Industries labels and a series of high profile remixes for Björk mit Funkstörung on Fat Cat Records and Wu-Tang Clan, they finally signed to !K7 Records in 1999.
Their first album on !K7, Additional Productions, was a collection of these remixes. Their first full-length album Appetite for Disctruction followed the next year. On it, their style evolved further, including more collaborations with MCs on the tracks "Grammy Winners" and "Sounds like a Breakrecord" as well as first experiments with guest singers. "Grammy Winners" was released as a single and video. Their next album Vice Versa (2001) was yet another collection of remixes, this time including versions of songs by Jean Michel Jarre, The Notwist and Tocotronic.
On their next album Disconnected, they added some distinctly pop-oriented songs, featuring guest vocalists Louise 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. Their video Chopping Heads directed by Keep Adding and Scott Pagano was selected for the 2005 International Critic's Week at Cannes Film Festival.[3]
In June 2005, Funkstörung released another album called The Return to the Acid Planet to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their first release. Stylistically, it was very reminiscent of their Acid Planet work - indeed, most of the songs were from that time, and were touched up to modern production standards. The biggest change was replacing the standard straight acid house beats with 808-sounding breakbeats. The album was only released in a limited vinyl edition and in the iTunes Music Store.
In the beginning of August 2006, a statement was published on funkstorung.com, stating that the duo had officially broken up due to musical, personal and practical differences. Both Michael Fakesch and Christian de Luca will continue making music with their respective solo projects.
| 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 | Mini-album | Bunker Records | 024 | 1996 | |
| Untitled | EP | Musik Aus Strom | 1.08 | 1996 | vinyl only, also known as Oszillator EP and Musik Aus Strom EP |
| 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 | Fat Cat 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 | Two "Disconnected" album tracks, and a remix of each |
| 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 | Compilation of Disconnected Audio CD, a video DVD of work for the album, and a book, ISBN 3899551079. Was titled "Most beautiful sleeve of 2004" by The Guardian.[4] |
| The Return to the Acid Planet | Album | !K7 Records | !K7186LP | 2005 | Only available on vinyl and through electronic distribution |
| Appendix | Album | !K7 Records | !K7210CD | 2006 | Another Remix collection |