Thanks to the quality of both their own output, and the records released on their Get Physical label (co-founded with fellow electro luminaries M.A.N.D.Y.), German duo Booka Shade are seen as being among the pre-eminent exponents of a particular kind of atmospheric house music.
The output on Get Physical is more muscular and accessible than the icy minimalism and repetitive grooves of the equally ace Kompakt imprint, but it’s still far from being a relentless techno assault. Rather, as demonstrated on More!, Booka Shade specialise in an irresistible brand of intelligent dance, built chiefly around squelchy beats and psychedelic electro effects. It’s a record made to groove to blissfully, as opposed to inspiring all-out dance floor mentalism.
One record that really ripped my door off its hinges in the ambient dance stakes of late was the brain shattering Nah Und Fern by GAS (aka Kompakt co-founder Wolfgang Voigt), which I can only describe as next level shit. More! doesn’t quite ascend into the stratosphere in the same manner, but attains a dizzying enough altitude all the same.