Fonók

DVA are an unusual duo from the Czech Republic, and “Fonók” is their debut album. They are Jen (guitar, vocals, loops, beatbox, etc) and Jenna (vocals, saxophone, clarinet, melodica, etc). Their music has been called ‘freak folk’ and uses elements of many genres : tango, cabaret, circus, and pop. The album was recorded in a remote cottage, in a small village, using analogue tape and old technologies - and DVA chose to cooperate with a well-known Berlin musician and producer Jayrope, an experienced producer, who has collaborated with artists such as Arto Lindsay, Rechenzentrum and Atari Teenage Riot. The album includes fifteen songs of legendary non-existent bands in non-existent world languages put together during travels, apparently, through their kitchen ! Each nonexistent region has its own representative on the album; each nonexistent language has its own translation. Besides their own music, other sounds can be heard on “Fonók” : a dachshund named Ferda, common buzzards, the ever-present chirp of grasshoppers, gherkin conservation and an amplifier on a column in the middle of a wood. The album was also influenced by a partial eclipse of the moon. Strange stuff indeed.....