Michael Fakesch: Dos (Studio !K7 CD)
Michael Fakesch is best known as one-half of IDM pioneers Funkstörung. Alongside partner Chris DeLuca, Fakesch was responsible for some of the most sophisticated non-dancefloor electronic music of the late 90s, either through the weird mutant (non)-hip hop of Funkstörung's studio productions, odd, manipulated remixes of popular artists such as Björk or his finely honed solo material on his own Musik Aus Strom label, Fakesch was at the vanguard of what was a relatively fresh genre.
Fast forward to 2007 and Fakesch finally has released his second proper solo album. Only this time around, it's not even really a solo record - although Fakesch is producing all of these tracks, they all owe quite a lot to vocalist Taprikk Sweezee, whose presence is front and center on nearly every track on this album. Just as Funkstörung's Appetite For Disctruction album in 2000 moved leaps and bounds toward hip hop compared to the records that preceded it, Dos is one humongous leap toward strange European R&B pop. It's a pretty radical left turn from Fakesch's instrumental explorations on his solo debut, Marion, and anyone expecting more of the same or even a logical progression will surely be caught off guard, and possibly disappointed or even aggravated.
Dos is, on its own terms, a pretty interesting pop album, though. Sweezee has the same effortless quality found in UK singer Jamie Lidell, and like Lidell he's not afraid to let his voice layer in unusual ways. Fakesch keeps things much more in his own world of weird electronic trickery though, not ever really veering into the Motown throwback schtick of Lidell's recent output. And because of this, despite my love of Jamie Lidell's live show, I far prefer this studio material over an album like Multiply. For instance, the genuinely strange "Wire" or slow-motion non-funk of "Miko" in all its stuttering glory comprise tracks that showcase Fakesch's talents for left-of-center production. But it doesn't mean that the pair can't turn out some hot pop jams, either: "Left" is irresistible, as is the vintage Prince-infused "Escalate" and "Complicated."
I have to admit that I was a bit taken aback when I first heard Dos, having a long love of its predecessor. But then I have to remind myself that Marion came out eight years ago, and a lot has changed since then. To that end, it's always interesting to me to see artists who are somewhat credited with landmark records in a specific genre or trend taking their music elsewhere. In some instances they appear to perpetually be trying to escape the burden of expectation or the responsibility to own up to potentially a whole deluge of copycats. Fakesch seems here to be doing neither, but rather having a good time and trying his hand at music that he obviously enjoys, expectations be damned.
mp3: Complicated | Left
more information: Official site | Myspace | Taprikk Sweezee on Myspace | Studio !K7
buy it: Boomkat | Amazon | Emusic