I can't discern what
they're singing about (the lyrics are entirely in Czech), but it
sure sounds like this sunny boy-girl duo are having fun. This rather
lengthy, fifteen-track album is a pretty, jazzy, electronic-flushed
pop adventure that passes by dandily in fumes of optimism and
whimsy. Lead singer Jenna has a terrific voice for this busy,
colourful episode -- sort of a Diamanda Galas-esque
juxtaposition of huskiness and femininity. The music is rounded out
by electronic rhythms and loops merged with organic instruments like
guitar, saxophone, clarinet and melodica. The resulting combination
often yields moments of sheer bliss, as on cheery, momentous
highlight "Disko Cirkús" and jumpy, jazzy "Három Kérom." Often the
music branches out a little into hip-hop, most notably on "Krieliškaj"
and "Dua Dua." Other tracks are joyfully playful and more than a
little catchy - for example the scat-like vocals and jubilant horns
of "Pingu Hop."
I consider myself
lucky to have unearthed this strangle little creature from the Czech
Republic - it isn't often a North American critic gets a crack at
material such as this. Czech lyrics be damned, DVA's Fonok
is ultimately a stunning pop record that's both stylistically
distinct and charmingly catchy.
