Some see techno as relentless and scientific – all BPMs and electronic sounds. But Arno Kammermeier from Booka Shade, who produced one of Berlin’s most important techno records, showed the world a different side to the style.
Movements, released in 2006, combined the techno spirit with what he calls a Second Dimension: “Something that sticks in your head, not just the drums and bass, but certain colours and layers in the grooves – an extra emotion.”
Tracks from the record, Mandarine Girl and In White Rooms, became ubiquitous dancefloor fillers. Though Kammermeier says it never felt like the record was going to catch on.
“We loved what we were doing, but I always think it was just a coincidence that the sound we were doing and how we were working and the dance community came together.
“We never had the feeling it would explode.
A song like Body Language did not take-off immediately. It was slow-burning – but then the fire was big.”
The record eventually got inside people’s heads and into DJs’ record bags. Body Language was named Ibiza track of the season 2005. “It was not typical. It was minimal but at 130bpm and had this weird drumming and melodic bassline.”
Kammermeier and Walter Merziger found themselves on giant stages.
“We played Pukkelpop festival [in Belgium], which was filmed and released as a DVD. It captured a moment where we realised these 12,000 people were singing along with our melodies. It made me cry.
“I enjoyed the moment and let loose. Walter just stood there. He said, ‘F*** f*** f***, what are we going to do in the future?’”
The two men reflect the different sides to Berlin: its grey, Socialist toughness and liberal, artistic freedom. They both play instruments and never let a show “get too much in your face, too rough”.
“Probably we are just two softies. Not hard enough. Maybe we make music for girls; boys probably only come because girls do. But I can live with that.”
Yet the roots to Booka Shade are in their native Saarbrüecken and began 25 years ago, when they made electronic pop as Planet Clair and were influenced by the New Wave of the early 1980s, such as New Order, Depeche Mode and The Cure.
They left for Frankfurt, attracted by its banging club scene, and produced the crossover hit Una Musica Senza Ritmo as Degeneration. Later they wrote movie soundtracks and pop for German major labels.
It was moving to Berlin in 2002 that Booka Shade was reborn, though. They started the Get Physical label with M.A.N.D.Y and then Groove Magazine editor, Thomas Koch (AKA DJ T). The switch granted the duo musical freedom and they released four albums on a label which became synonymous with the best of Berlin.
For the follow-up to 2010’s More!, which was closer to Movements than its predecessor The Sun & The Neon Light (featuring more proper songs and live orchestration), the duo left Get Physical. “We realised there were too many creative people and there was no real direction any more. Everybody was too busy having arguments so we said let’s leave behind the bad energy and start something new.”
They have swapped recording on the road for the studio. As well as using the studio Merziger recently built at his Berlin home, they spent a few days in Manchester.
“We went to a studio outside Manchester with loads of outboard gear and old synths.
The owner is crazy. He said, ‘Why not try this effect on this synth and plug it through this.’ It was a joyful, positive period.”
Kammermeier says the new record will be more diverse. Fitting the stereotype for precision, he explains the speed on previous albums was predominantly 125bpm, 128bpm, four-to-the-floor style. The new one will vary.
“We want to capture the energy of a live show. There will be wilder, rockier parts, slow tempos, and the sound is going to be more organic with more depth.”
There’s no name yet but expect to hear some previews in Brighton. “The name is the last frontier. It usually comes towards the end when you think about the whole album, how it feels and its story.”
Corn Exchange, Church Street, Brighton, Sunday, May 13, 12.30am
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