New Music: Funkstörung, Cherry Jarre, Hauschka

Funkstörung - Spacek - 1st Stroke (!K7 2007)

Funkstörung - Appendix / !K7

At the first stroke of Funkstörung's first remix from their final album, you're sure you've stepped into a darker Junior Boys record where Berlin sleaze has overtaken the crisp, refreshing Canadian air of So This is Goodbye. It only partly sets the precedent for things to come, because the two guys sitting behind the boards manhandled artists in a way their home city would be proud of. That's a partial introduction. Here's the rest: Münich-based duo Chris de Luca and Michael Fakesch are the dynamic young producers known as Funkstörung. Or rather, they were; after a decade under the influence of everyone from Skam to Bunker to Rephlex (though talks with IDM king Richard D. James I, Esq. fell through in late '99), the gentlemen have opted to disband with three full-lengths under their belt, a jointly owned record label (Musik Aus Strom), and the infamous Mask series. But hey, don't weep for 'em yet: De Luca and Fakesch will have plenty keeping them busy in the future in addition to their solo projects. First, a final look back at their catalog in the form of Appendix, which collects their Autechre-aping remixes. Everyone from The Raveonettes to Björk gets the once-over, but its their Spacek remix right at the front of the compilation that demonstrates their mastery of the remix best. Their maximalist attack is typical of late-night German post-rave raves, but it's their magic in the micro, barely discernable below those big beats and breathy vocals, that made Funkstörung such interesting producers. A shame to see them go, even if they're merely going apart from each other.










Cherry Jarre - Habits (2007)

Cherry Jarre - Plant, Watered / Self-released

Jordan's bit about Soft Circle was well-timed and serves as a tidy lead-in for Cherry Jarre, who - and I'll be frank when I say this, because I know no other way - I know nothing about. I'm not going to make any assumptions about them being in any way related to the abrasive Maurice Jarre or the equally great Jean-Michel Jarre; however, if you or a loved one has information on the whereabouts of Cherry Jarre, please let us know. Why? Maybe "Habits" will go some way to explaining: In the same way as Hisham Bharoocha's Full Bloom explains the dronevil behind transmissions of varied frequencies, so too does Jarre's "Habits" wake up the reader with low frequency feedback and the scratching we've come to associate with Wolf Eyes or Black Dice in a bad mood. At just three songs, "Gory Shiv" holds the whole thing together at 42 minutes... But "Factory" wraps things up nicely as the concluding track at 4.20. Clearly, someone was on something less than totally legal when they made this, but no matter; you probably will be too when you come to enjoy it. Yeah, Soft Circle may be the album you use to wake up in the morning, but don't try anything like that with Plant, Watered - You may never sleep comfortably again.













Hauschka - Chicago Morning (Fat Cat 2007)

Hauschka - Room to Expand / Fat Cat

Volker Bertelmann is all about the limitless fun one can have with "prepared," pure-bred pianos. Like a lot of other guys out there right now - and we're talking Max Richter, Library Tapes and Julien Neto to name just three in a gaggle - the idea of the piano as perfect in tone is being challenged in a variety of ways. For Bertelmann, this means covering hammers with aluminum, weaving guitar strings amongst the ones provided, and my own personal favorite, placing crown corks on the strings. Bertelmann as the new aural Bukowski sounds good to me... But on to the music: "Chicago Morning" is the antithesis of "Habits," much as Room to Expand is quite the opposite of Plant, Watered. A simple piano line tinkles along in the background to its unending satisfaction as an art-damaged horn section (Remember when it was én vogue to use that?) woozily provides backup. I've only been to Chicago once and I've never gotten a proper morning out of the Windy City like I someday hope to, but this and its fellow songs on Room to Expand are how I'd like to imagine them. Instead of a chest-thumping "Go Bears!," a quiet reflection on what this or any year's Super Bowl really means in the grand scheme of things. No matter who wins on Sunday night, this will be their soundtrack on Monday morning: We'll all be undefeated soon enough.