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TrackList:
1.[ 6:07 ] Date Of Expiration
2.[ 5:06 ] This World
3.[ 5:10 ] History
4.[ 5:03 ] Obscure Pictures
5.[ 5:37 ] Compulsions
6.[ 4:38 ] Prisoners Of War
7.[ 4:41 ] Final Thrill
8.[ 5:00 ] Fallen Man
9.[ 4:33 ] Stolen Thoughts
10.[5:25] Lugner!
11.[5:28] Faster Life
12.[12:16] Red Queen
13. Refugees (bonus)
Funker Vogt Main Performer
Jens Kastel Vocals
Gerrit Thomas Synthesizer, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Vocals (Background)
J. Michael Walker Artwork, Design
Björn Böttcher Synthesizer
survivor - album review
Funker Vogt returns with driving dance rhythms, Jens Kästel's gutteral vocals (less distorted than in the past), and lyrics about war, politics, and occasionally personal matters. There are some signs of change, such as the inclusion of a ballad and the guitar on "Fallen Man" and "Red Queen," but for the most part this album shouldn't come as a big surprise to listeners familiar with the band's recent work. The contrast between the upbeat dance grooves and Kästel's doomy exclamations on songs such as "This World" may strike some as cheesy, particularly considering the bloodstained lyrics with clinical phrases like, "awful waste of resources." But the band has done an effective job of staking out their particular musical turf with the appropriate minor variations. For example, "Compulsions" is the song that Rudy Ratzinger might have written with Kurt Weill if they were shooting morphine on the battlefield. Featuring an incessant electronic, martial beat, the song conveys a pervasive sense of dread with an uncharacteristically clear vocal performance by Kästel, who sounds almost like a German Brian Eno as he sings (or at least chants) instead of shouting in his usual hoarse voice. Other songs also get the job done, and while some may wish that the music was a bit more adventurous and less repetitious, it's a solid effort overall. ~ Todd Kristel, All Music Guide
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Funker Vogt is a good example of how critics and fans don't always think alike. They sell loads of records, while reviews of praise and glory are pretty rare when it comes to these military themed Germans.
"Survivor" is no exception from their lyrics on soldiers, war, loss of honour and bitter agony. Musically, it is pretty much the same as "Maschine Zeit" but with a more accessible sound and with some, wanted or unwanted, future pop influences. Jens Kästel still shouts as if someone is trying to peel off his skin with a pair of hedge clippers, though. A few of the "Survivor" tracks even have more mellow undistorted vocals, which is most welcome.
What has to be said, in Funker Vogt's favour, is that they aren't as bad as most reviewers make them out to be. Gerrit Thomas is a good song writer and he knows how to produce a club smasher. His work, in its most perfected and innovative state, can be found on all Ravenous albums. Funker Vogt is mostly about 150 bpm rage and dance friendly sounds, so they tend to become tedious after a while. Ravenous work the whole spectrum aided by a fantastic vocalist.
"Survivor" is the best I've heard from the band since the song "Maschine Zeit" and lacks the obvious embarrassments of their first efforts. Try to focus on the driving rhythms and the clever melodies without paying any real attention to the lyrics and you'll be fine.
1.[ 6:07 ] Date Of Expiration
2.[ 5:06 ] This World
3.[ 5:10 ] History
4.[ 5:03 ] Obscure Pictures
5.[ 5:37 ] Compulsions
6.[ 4:38 ] Prisoners Of War
7.[ 4:41 ] Final Thrill
8.[ 5:00 ] Fallen Man
9.[ 4:33 ] Stolen Thoughts
10.[5:25] Lugner!
11.[5:28] Faster Life
12.[12:16] Red Queen
13. Refugees (bonus)
Funker Vogt Main Performer
Jens Kastel Vocals
Gerrit Thomas Synthesizer, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Vocals (Background)
J. Michael Walker Artwork, Design
Björn Böttcher Synthesizer
survivor - album review
Funker Vogt returns with driving dance rhythms, Jens Kästel's gutteral vocals (less distorted than in the past), and lyrics about war, politics, and occasionally personal matters. There are some signs of change, such as the inclusion of a ballad and the guitar on "Fallen Man" and "Red Queen," but for the most part this album shouldn't come as a big surprise to listeners familiar with the band's recent work. The contrast between the upbeat dance grooves and Kästel's doomy exclamations on songs such as "This World" may strike some as cheesy, particularly considering the bloodstained lyrics with clinical phrases like, "awful waste of resources." But the band has done an effective job of staking out their particular musical turf with the appropriate minor variations. For example, "Compulsions" is the song that Rudy Ratzinger might have written with Kurt Weill if they were shooting morphine on the battlefield. Featuring an incessant electronic, martial beat, the song conveys a pervasive sense of dread with an uncharacteristically clear vocal performance by Kästel, who sounds almost like a German Brian Eno as he sings (or at least chants) instead of shouting in his usual hoarse voice. Other songs also get the job done, and while some may wish that the music was a bit more adventurous and less repetitious, it's a solid effort overall. ~ Todd Kristel, All Music Guide
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funker Vogt is a good example of how critics and fans don't always think alike. They sell loads of records, while reviews of praise and glory are pretty rare when it comes to these military themed Germans.
"Survivor" is no exception from their lyrics on soldiers, war, loss of honour and bitter agony. Musically, it is pretty much the same as "Maschine Zeit" but with a more accessible sound and with some, wanted or unwanted, future pop influences. Jens Kästel still shouts as if someone is trying to peel off his skin with a pair of hedge clippers, though. A few of the "Survivor" tracks even have more mellow undistorted vocals, which is most welcome.
What has to be said, in Funker Vogt's favour, is that they aren't as bad as most reviewers make them out to be. Gerrit Thomas is a good song writer and he knows how to produce a club smasher. His work, in its most perfected and innovative state, can be found on all Ravenous albums. Funker Vogt is mostly about 150 bpm rage and dance friendly sounds, so they tend to become tedious after a while. Ravenous work the whole spectrum aided by a fantastic vocalist.
"Survivor" is the best I've heard from the band since the song "Maschine Zeit" and lacks the obvious embarrassments of their first efforts. Try to focus on the driving rhythms and the clever melodies without paying any real attention to the lyrics and you'll be fine.