Tracklist:

1- Date of Expiration (Expired)
2- Date of Expiration (Mouldy)
3- Second World
4- Date of Expiration (Fresh)
5- Traumatic Event

Total Play Time: 25:47

Funker Vogt has gone synthpop !!!

Ok, no one really believes that right? Funker Vogt has been releasing clean sounding, dance friendly EBM music since they started; and in my opinion have done a damn good job at it. Where some people may find the lack of anything drastically experimental by the Funker Vogt boring, I look at the other side of the coin..... they haven't changed their sound to something "popular" at a specific time, nor slacked off in the quality of "their sound."

To start this single off, the 'Expired' version of "Date of Expiration" is gently brought in with soft keys and a background choir like sound. Not lasting long though, we are quickly swept up into a crisp, clear dance beat. The beat is your trademark Funker Vogt sound that although familiar, is fun and will irresistibly inspire thoughts of dancing. The song's topic is where there is a difference in Funker Vogt this time around. Normally speaking about subjects such as war, governments and/or science fiction-like topics; the subject of love in "Date of Expiration" seems a huge change. Mind you this doesn't mean the vocals are cheesy sounding, or delivered differently then Jens Kastel normally presents them. The vocals are trademark Funker Vogt, spoken and altered to have a slight echo.

The 'Mouldy' version starts off slower, and retains that slower attitude with it's mid-paced beat. The vocals sound clearer on this mix, brought to the front of the music to stand out. This mix although slower, is interesting with it's breaks in the beat, allowing the listener to focus on the song's sound and vocals more closely. With the 'Fresh' version you get just that, a mix which rings the song's rougher aspects out and starts things all new. The steady beat is there like in the 'Expired' mix, it just is smoother with the addition of a piano and less breaks. The sound here reminds me of some of Fictional's dance songs (Fictional being a side-project of Funker Vogt's).

"Second World" one of the new tracks is an enjoyable dance friendly track. Nice build up on the sounds during the verses, then stopping the beat to dramatically introduce the chorus. With "Traumatic Event" you get what would seem to be the "usual one slow song on a Funker Vogt release." The song seemed rather beautiful with it's choices in looped sounds, and deep resounding keys. The subject matter again seems more personal in nature with "Traumatic Event", speaking of a friend who is no longer the person they once were, due to some traumatic event experienced.

The way Funker Vogt remixes their own songs with such diversity, this single's three takes on "Date of Expiration" was a pleasure to listen to. "Survivor", the title for their next full length; has quite a teaser going on with this single. Adding in two non-album tracks, made this that muc more of an appealing CD to buy. Being the Funker Vogt fan I am though, I'd probably have bought this single just to whet my appetite before "Survivor" comes out.

Information:
Label: Synthetic Symphony
Serial: SPV 055-63463 CDS
Title: Date of Expiration CD single
Band: Funker Vogt
Site: English Webpage or German (Official) Webpage

Reviewed by Bry'n
7.10.02