The Sun & the Neon Light (The Vinyl Mixes) - Booka Shade

The 20: June 2008

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Featured Review #05

The Sun & the Neon Light (The Vinyl Mixes)

Booka Shade [Get Physical Music]

#05 in this month's The 20

Written by: lizwarner
Filed under: The 20:

Germany’s Booka Shade have been moving at a steady but progressive pace.

Their third full-length album, ‘The Sun & The Neon Light’ has been rightfully gaining the Berlin-based duo “instant classic” cred, and now they’ve developed mixes that are exclusive to Beatport and tailored for the dancefloor.

And because of the addition of The Vinyl Mixes collection, a new dimension is added to their sound.

The album as available in CD format is textured and at a listening pace that isn’t often approached on such a large scale within the electronic dance community.

As not so much a counter-reference, but a companion, The Vinyl Mixes take some of those original cuts plus add exclusives to giving it a multi-dimensional approach.

While several of the cuts are not a great departure, there are the exceptions that make the album translate especially well for the dancefloor.

‘Dusty Boots’ is an introspective foray into, er, country, on the CD, but by the time it hits the digital circuit, it becomes that oft sought beat-laden oddity that seems to make its way to the top out of sheer quirkiness.

Taking the vocals out of ‘Control Me’ adds a diversity to the electro house element of the track, and ends up making it a perfect set builder.

‘Sweet Lies’ is nearly mournful in its original rendering, but becomes much more focused and grooved by the time it hits this release.

The remainder of the collection is filled with versions that are quite like the album, plus some additional as-yet unreleased goods.

A greater scope throughout ‘The Sun & The Neon Light’ adds to Booka Shade’s growth for this third outing, pointing their “instant classic” album status towards classic artist alignment.