Week 16 / 2008 (yes, no week 15) features Booka Shade's The Sun And The Neon Light, Juno Reactor's Gods And Monsters, Loco Dice's 7 Dunham Place, The Presets' Apocalypso, The Raconteurs' Consolers Of The Lonely and Soulphiction's Do You Overstand?!. Have fun!

Booka Shade – The Sun And The Neon Light

German electronic music veterans Booka Shade are back with the third studio album under their name (they have produced German Popstars winner No Angels among other things – I hope they did it for the money). As I like the preceding Movements, I was really looking forward to hearing this album. Tuning in…

Booka Shade
The Sun And The Neon Light

The Sun And The Neon Light is more song orientated than the clearly electronic and danceable Movements, with acoustic instruments (featuring an orchestra) and vocals. Still, the songs sound like a remixed, acoustically re-imagined version of Movements from time to time, but luckily not as if they'd run out of ideas, as the country-music-like song Dusty Boots shows. Even the 1980's reminiscent “Control Me” won't stop me from digging this album. (This whole 1980's-like music the past months is just a backdoor conspiracy to make me listen to 1980's music. I just hope I don't get shot if I ever say I finally love it.)

All in all, it's a very well produced and good sounding album with forgivable flaws (such as an inconsistent theme). Favourites: Outskirts and – Control Me.

Would I buy it? Yes, and I forgive them producing Culture Beat as well. To be released 2008.05.26 on Get Physical.

Juno Reactor – Gods And Monsters

Goa trance, world music and soundtrack act Juno Reactor is – oh wait, that description is sufficient enough.

Juno Reactor
Gods And Monsters

While I like Ben Waktins' orchestral score for Brave Story, Juno Reactor are still the same as on the Matrix soundtracks, as they were before, and as we know now, will remain. There are some catchy moments on Gods And Monsters, but I wish they'd isolate and make sole albums from them. No favourites.

Would I buy it? No. If you like the electronic music part of Juno Reactor, be sure to check out Fluke (who appeared on a Matrix soundtrack also). To be released 2008.04.22 on Metropolis Records.

Loco Dice – 7 Dunham Place

Another German electronic music producer, and another fine one. Loco Dice has been playing support slots to performers like Jamiroquai and Snoop Dogg, and now released his first full-length studio album.

Loco Dice
7 Dunham Place

The album is named after a studio adress in New York, and every track should be seen as a day of his time he spent there, mirroring all his impressions and emotions. I doubt it's the kind of music he encountered, but surely is the one that would run through my head as well during this journey: House at its finest. Favourite songs: Consequently Eccentric And Delecate and How Do I Know.

Would I buy it? Yes. I dig this kind of music. To be released 2008.05.11 on Desolat.

The Presets – Apocalypso

Hooray, electro house/clash/punk/yet-another-overrated-and-overused-“electronic”-style, this time hailing from Australia.

The Presets
Apocalypso

For the record: I can't stand Hot Chip's new album, either. Digitalism was hard to endure, too. The end. No favourites. My ears bleed.

Would I buy it? No. Already released on Modular Recordings.

The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely

I like Jack White, and I like Brendan Benson. The Raconteurs are both (and then some more), and this is their second joint album. For the Greater Good?

The Raconteurs
Consolers Of The Lonely

This album is either too much Jack White or too much Brendan Benson. That's not bad, but while Broken Boy Soliders resulted in a synergy effect, creating something new, Consolers Of The Lonely often appears like a power struggle between White and Benson. Not in a deconstructive way, but rather like striking a balance between their styles. Solid alternative rock, but just not great. Favourites: Consolers Of The Lonely and You Don't Know Me.

Would I buy it? Hm, no, but just because I already own White Stripes (recommending Elephant) and Brendan Benson (recommending Alternative To Love) albums. Already released on Warner Bros. Records.

Soulphiction – Do You Overstand?!

Germany and electronic music – seems to be the recurring theme of week 16 / 2008. Also resident of the four to the floor universe, Soulphiction aka Jackmate, and part of ManMadeScience aka Stuttgart man Michael Baumann (excerpt from his label site) reveals this side of his musical schizophrenia.

Soulphiction
Do You Overstand?!

While I enjoy listening to it, it's not as sophisticated as earlier mentioned Booka Shade's The Sun And The Neon Light or Loco Dice's 7 Dunham Place, and only one song – Prinson Song (feat. Marcin Öz) – bears in remembrance. Nice, but I got a copy of Reason, too. XKCD 411.

Would I buy it? No. To be released 2008.04.21 on Sonar Kollektiv.