Funkstörung's neat disappearing act near the end of the millennium, after a few years of praise from all quarters, gave their reappearance in 2004 a large element of surprise. Even if the duo hadn't changed with the times, however, it wouldn't have been a problem; their sound was years ahead of its time in 1996, and could have been transported eight years into the future with no difficulty. Disconnected has only occasional glimpses of the classic
Funkstörung sound, the balance of which consists of confessional songwriting and guitar-driven arrangements that many other electronic acts have performed and played in the past. New vocalist Enik is an enigma; his weary, puzzled delivery and impossibly obtuse lyrics contribute very little to the four songs he appears on.
Funkstörung's flirtation with hip-hop pays many more dividends (their unlikely remix of
Wu-Tang Clan for a German 12" is a career highlight). The two collaborations with rapper
Tes here are both excellent; "Chopping Heads" balances a series of genius beats randomly organized into chunky funk, and
Tes' vocals are signal-processed to perfection. ~ John Bush