DJ Kicks

Dj Kicks is a series of mix albums by various artists for the independent record label !K7 Records. It started out in 1995 as a compilation of electronic DJ club-style mixes in the techno or house genres, with the then-novel twist of being targeted to a home listening audience. Soon afterwards, both the choice of compilers and the genres included were expanded: In addition to DJs, more and more producers (like Terranova), remixers (like Kruder & Dorfmeister), bands (like the Stereo MCs) and musicians (like Nicolette) compiled DJ-Kicks albums.
Most recently the electronic/indie duo Hot Chip (Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard) edited a mix album for the label, mixing minimal sounds with hip-hop, pop, funk and soul.

From their beginnings as a trancey house duo to their more mature post-millennial work that incorporates pop, ambient, techno, and funk influences, Frankfurt, Germany, duo Booka Shade has maintained an elegance of style that owes little to whatever current dance music trends are on the scene. However, before they were Booka Shade, Arno Merziger and Walter Kammermeier had an early-'90s synth pop duo called Planet Claire, which in the tradition of Underworld and Ministry mutated into something very different after their early direction petered out following two mildly successful albums. Abandoning dance-pop in favor of heavier club beats and trance electronics, Merziger and Kammermeier changed the name of their project to Booka Shade, debuting with the 1995 single "Kind of Good." After several years of releasing singles on various American and European labels, Merziger and Kammermeier started their own imprint, Get Physical, in 2001. The original intent behind the Get Physical label was that Booka Shade would be the shadowy producers, writers, and remixers behind other artists, but in 2004, Booka Shade released their first proper album as artists, Memento. Following two more club hits in 2005, "Mandarine Girl" and "Body Language," Booka Shade released their second album, Movements. Throughout their career as performing artists, Booka Shade has maintained a separate line in high-profile remixes, including work ranging from Yello and Depeche Mode to Moby and the Knife.

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