PLANETARY FUNK 22 LIGHT YEARS SERIES (PART 1)

TRACKLISTING

A Planetary Assault Systems - Dungeon (Ž [Phase] Remix)
B1 Planetary Assault Systems - The Gated (Ben Sims Edi t)
B2 Planetary Assault Systems - Dungeon



INFO
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 conti nued 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 ha ndclaps, 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 ce ntury re-activation of the Planetary Funk moniker isn't a nostalgic look backwar ds so much as an expansion of its original mission.

Leading off the p roceedings 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 th e earlier Planetary Funk EPs into something more akin to the project's present-d ay approach: not more "laid back" by a long shot, but more mesmerizing and loade d with anticipation. The repeated slow fade-in and detuned drop-out of a wasp-li ke hum is just one fascinating feature of this eerie track, which also includes other ephemeral activities occurring on the perimeter and a glassy rhythmic figu re which snares your concentration and refuses to let go.

The &empty [Phase] remix of "Dungeon" also takes the listener to a dark place of uncertain ty and possible hidden dangers, but with more vigor and percussive intensity add ed to the mix: with an extra (over)dose of vibrato added to the signature hum fr om the original, with more force added to the kick drums, and more variety in th e dialogue between other percussive strikes, listening to this paint-peeling, st omping creation is an exhilarating man-machine experience like snaking a motorbi ke at high speed through gridlocked traffic.

Not to be outdone, Ben S ims appears on the scene as well with a re-envisioning of "Gated," from the firs t Planetary Funk A-side. Retaining all the controlled chaos which made this trac k 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. Utiliz ing a full complement of additional tension-building techniques, Sims doesn't tr y to upstage the original but does try to show a definite evolutionary process a t work. In fact, the whole record is a celebration of this evolution, showing ho w Planetary Funk has naturally adapted to strange new times, but has kept its so ul and character intact.