Funker Vogt – Conspiracy (EP – RepoRecords)

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, EBM.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Two years after the “Wastelands”-album Funker Vogt is back on track unleashing this brand-new EP featuring four new songs, two remixes and one extra remix from an old song from 2012.
Content: I’m not affirming that Funker Vogt has reinvented its sound, but the new songs sound less ‘typical’. The composition remains powerful and ultra danceable, but I get the impression Chris L. is progressively having more impact on the writing process. You still recognize the arrangements and sound treatments of Gerrit Thomas, but some details have changed. The lyrical themes became also deeper, like announcing a dystopian dream that is progressively becoming true.
“Conspiracy” features 4 great new songs plus an excellent remix –or reworked version, of “Date Of Expiration” (originally released at the “Survivor”-album in 2002).
+ + + : Both debut songs (cf. “The Fallen Race” and “CE-3”) definitely appear to be the real title songs. But it’s the “Intruder”-version from “CE-3”, which is the absolute highlight here. The song is driven by powerful dance vibes and a simple, but efficient and aggressive chorus. Another attention grabber is “A New Dawn”, which is carried by an EBM bass line. Chris L.’s vocals are progressively also becoming more explicit in the global production process. I also like this EP for featuring several new –and outstanding, songs. No abuse of remixes here, but just new and efficient songs!
– – – : I can’t say there are real minus points on this work.
Conclusion: There’s no better way striking back with such a powerful and essential EP. Funker Vogt still rules!
Best songs: “CE-3 – Intruder”, “CE-3 – First Contact”, “The Fallen Race”, “A New Dawn”, “Date Of Expiration – Neumix”.
Rate: (8½).
Artist: www.funkervogt.de / www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt
Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404
About Funker Vogt
Funker Vogt was formed in 1995 by Jens Kastel (vocals) and Gerrit Thomas (machines), quickly setting EBM and dark-electro dance floors alight. Kastel later left the band and was replaced by Chris L., a change that first fully surfaced on the RepoRecords album “Wastelands” (2018). According to Thomas, the pre-astronautics and alien-conspiracy theme explored on “Conspiracy” carried on into the following full-length, “Element 115” (2021), and the EP “Mc 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p3”, forming a loose trilogy on the same subject.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

