Funckarma: Elaztiq Bourbon 5

The third release of the Dutch Sending Orbs label is a kind of best of Funckarma album. Songs of the three EP’s "Sounds” (2002), “Elaztiq” (2002) and “Part 5” (2003) have been put in random order, but sound surprisingly coherent together. I have been told that the gentlemen have remastered and done some other adjustments to the original songs, which could account for the sound technical nice concurrence.

The music created by the Funcken brothers can best be described as intelligent electronica, in the same category as Plaid, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Fourtet and Funkstorung. Mister D. & R. play with rhythms and exciting melodies and it isn’t until you analytically listen to their music on your headphone that you can fully appreciate the complexity of the songs. Minimal rhythmic changes, a small adjustment in tones or just a few unexpected background sounds give you something new to discover, every time you listen to this record.

Some outstanding songs are ‘Noir’, the hypnotizing ‘Sphere’, ‘Lignite’ with the funny breaks, and ‘Dredge’. This third Sending Orbs release is somewhat darker then the previous two albums by Kettel and Secede. This is also shown in the artwork by Jeroen Advocaat.

The sound and the structure of the songs as well as the created mood on “Bourbon Elaztiq 5” reminds me very much of Aphex Twin’s “…I Care Because You Do”. If you are familiar with this last recording, than you know why Funckarma has presented us with a very good release.

And for the third time in a row, I’m obligatory to say: I’m looking forward to the next release of this young, but ambitious electronica label.