Artist(s) .........:: Planetary Assault Systems
Title .............:: Planetary Funk 22 Light Years Series Part 1
Genre .............:: Techno
Record Label ......:: Mote Evolver
Catalogue Number ..:: MOTE046D
Source ............:: WEB
Quality ...........:: 320kbps avg / 44.1KHz / Full Stereo
Duration ..........:: 00:20:53 (47.9MB)
Release Date ......:: 00-00-2016
Support ...........::
Tracklist .........::
1. Dungeon (╪ [Phase] Remix) 8:11
2. The Gated (Ben Sims Edit) 6:22
3. Dungeon 6:20
Release Note ......::
It's almost hard to believe that the original series of "Planetary Funk" 12"s
by Planetary Assault Systems dates back to the early 1990s, given the continued
relevance of this hard-edged suite of tracks, and their ease of integration
into present-day techno sets. Characterized by their unflagging momentum and by
almost militaristic deployment of techno's atomic particles - submachine-gun
handclaps, acid-soaked bass patterns, the icy chatter of ride and hi-hat
cymbals - the spirit of these tracks has never really vacated the club scene.
The 21st century re-activation of the Planetary Funk moniker isn't a nostalgic
look backwards so much as an expansion of its original mission.
Leading off the proceedings on this first volume is "Dungeon," a 1997 original
from P.A.S. which already shows this unit transitioning from the fierce,
frantic atmosphere of the earlier Planetary Funk EPs into something more akin
to the project's present-day approach: not more "laid back" by a long shot, but
more mesmerizing and loaded with anticipation. The repeated slow fade-in and
detuned drop-out of a wasp-like hum is just one fascinating feature of this
eerie track, which also includes other ephemeral activities occurring on the
perimeter and a glassy rhythmic figure which snares your concentration and
refuses to let go.
The ╪ [Phase] remix of "Dungeon" also takes the listener to a dark place of
uncertainty and possible hidden dangers, but with more vigor and percussive
intensity added to the mix: with an extra (over)dose of vibrato added to the
signature hum from the original, with more force added to the kick drums, and
more variety in the dialogue between other percussive strikes, listening to
this paint-peeling, stomping creation is an exhilarating man-machine experience
like snaking a motorbike at high speed through gridlocked traffic.
Not to be outdone, Ben Sims appears on the scene as well with a re-envisioning
of "Gated," from the first Planetary Funk A-side. Retaining all the controlled
chaos which made this track a classic, Sims adds more of his own fuel to the
fire by downtuning the bass, re-adjusting the tempo and adding extra distortion
on the slamming kicks. Utilizing a full complement of additional
tension-building techniques, Sims doesn't try to upstage the original but does
try to show a definite evolutionary process at work. In fact, the whole record
is a celebration of this evolution, showing how Planetary Funk has naturally
adapted to strange new times, but has kept its soul and character intact.