Ten years have passed since the last album from the duo of Mikael Fakesch and Chris de Luca – so it’s probably a sign of wanting to exert the Funkstörung identity that they’ve returned with a self-titled fourth record under the guise. This time they have a clutch of vocal guests in tow, but are careful not to let this disrupt the album’s continuity. We begin with the confidential late night electronica of ‘Fall Into You’, with Audego, before the beats are pumped up more for the first of four contributions from Anothr – who caps his appearances with the simmering ‘Drown In Time’. Jamie Lidell adds a typically expressive and silky vocal to ‘So Simple’, while the duo dress their songs with spatial interludes, which in the case of ‘CHNNL’ work like a warm sonic bath. There is a lasting intimacy to this album that makes it perfect for closed-in, late night listening – while on occasion meaning it doesn’t project as far as it might. That said, though, it’s a very strong return.
