Booka Shade - Planetary/City Tales

Something of tech-house royalty, Booka Shade had an interesting 2007. Following the mixed reaction to "Tickle/Karma Car" and some alright-but-not-great remixes, they released their DJ-Kicks, a defining mix CD of the year, along with the single "Numbers". It was the first time Booka Shade had used vocals in a track and it worked pretty well. Looking towards their soon to be released third LP "The Sun and the Neon Light", it's clear that Booka are making more of a home listening record rather than a straight club record like "Movements". Some are unsure what to make of this, but if it's straight techno you want, Booka will still always deliver.

First single from the album features a "Club Mix" of Planetary, what I assume is just a longer and more driving version of what will be on the album. It starts with an odd little synth and then comes in a little clave that sounds like it may have that 2006 ping pong delay on it, but it nothing like it. Bass tones come in, going up and down, while little whistles add an eerie effect. Unfortunately, the main synth line and little breaks here and there interrupt the flow, which is why they included the "Dub" mix. Keeping everything that's good about the original, it smooths everything out into a cut that will make dancefloors go mental.

On the B-side is a cut not intended for the album called "City Tales", here in a "Neon Dub" version, but I doubt the original will ever see the light of day. A track that Booka were going to forget, M.A.N.D.Y. told them that they had been playing it out and getting a huge reaction to it, so Booka decided to include it here, and we must all be glad that they did. Featured as a centerpiece on M.A.N.D.Y.'s Fabric 38, "City Tales (Neon Dub)" is like Planetary in that it's got so much propulsion you can't help but dance, but only better. More rhythmically interesting, little bass tones come in and out to give a sense of melody where there isn't one. Little vocorded voices are put here and there not doing much , until a big "uhhh" comes in adding a new dimension. Booka then take little "tch" "uh" and "bap" vocal snippets and turn them into a massive rhythm. What this track does with the vocals makes it such a classic its a shame that we may have never seen it. Using nothing but moans, grunts and "bahp"s, if this doesn't get you dancing then there is no hope.

Booka's next album may be less of a dance album and more of an electronic album, but don't let that scare you. "Movements" was sometimes criticized for being formulaic and too melodic. Booka took those comments and said "you want something different?" and gave us something completely different. These standout cuts feature little or no melody and are so far from anything on "Movements" that it's a shock at first that it's Booka Shade. They plan on releasing a more club friendly version of their new album, and with the duo of more melodic songs for home listening and straight-forward-rhythmic club tracks, it's safe to say that 2008 is, like 2006, Booka Shade's year again.