Booka Shade - Night Surfing

Techno titans Booka Shade are a gift that just keeps on giving. You might think that after more than a dozen years in the scene their output may have slowed down or that their best work lay behind them, but with this forthcoming release, Night Surfing/Future Primitives, those doubts are all but cast aside.

Of course we know them for their landmark productions "Body Language" and Movements, yet a decade later their recent releases continue to be nothing short of spectacular. They released a full length album Galvany Street, a new EP Aftermath/Limelight, and remixed Rufus' "Be With You," my personal favourite production of theirs in the last two years. That being said, I think I've got a new one with this soon to be released a-side. While we haven't yet got a full play of "Future Primitives," it's counterpart was uploaded to Mixmag's Youtube channel yesterday, with a full release February 2nd.

Their trademark top notch sound design is on full display right from the get go with strong, sweep you off your feet, shuffling and the dopest of deep synth throbs. Then there's their potent percussion work with nearly every drum imaginable taking the track into a wild scene of nature. And I'd like to stop here to note that this is perhaps the most enjoyable part of Booka Shade's productions. As with "Night Falls" and "In White Rooms" they're able to inject a natural-world feel into their overtly electronic productions. The scenes they create remove you from whatever dark club you're in and transport you to an incredibly vivid landscape, whether it be a sweeping savanna, a gigantic jungle or an island paradise. In the case of "Night Surfing," I envision a tropical jungle at the ocean's edge, of course in the evening with the stars sparkling like the synths. And this is where our story continues.

As you exit the jungle of the atmosphere set out by the drums, the roaring synths and rumbling in the distance beckon you to the water. The rising top line is tremendously tempting, causing you to cast aside all angst of entering the ocean alone. It's allure is magical yet alien, as the scintillating night sky screams out its siren song. But once you get out there the darkness and danger once again rears its ugly head. All hope seems lost as you've become stranded, cast away with the current. The only saving grace is Booka Shade's god like combination of these two opposing narratives around the 5:30 mark. The hopelessness has sunk in at this point but you've come to accept it, opting to bask in the beauty of the brightly lit sky. Like the track itself, it is impossible to look away, only to enjoy every last second. The power of progression is on full display, and Booka Shade have shown their prowess yet again.

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