The Fuga compilation returns to Token with its seventh installment by a fresh batch of artists emphasizing the cryptic sound of the Belgian record label. The V/A displays urgency as its focal point, expanding and contracting its acoustic space throughout to channel instability. With eight contributions, Fuga VII sifts through nail biting arpeggios, frenzied percussion, and obscure ambiance to recalibrate techno's current soundscape. Opening the compilation is contemporary techno mainstay Rene Wise with his debut contribution to the record label 'Rough Rider'. In this A1, Wise plays to his strengths by blending deep techno influences with hyper-focused rhythmic work. With a hint of tribalism, he conjures up synthwork from far off to whip motion into heavy drum patterns. Following this first track, STIPP and Sandrien take control in presenting 'Corrie', a sequence-forward groover that slides through drum programing to streamline rhythm. A shrill pad comes in at the halfway mark, completely lifting the energy of 'Corrie' to strain the track's obscurity with an ethereal counterweight. The brief passage of these kinds of elements provides a lot of dynamic to what would otherwise be a powerfully straightforward piece. Diving deeper, Red Rooms unveils 'Limited Sensory' as the next chapter of the compilation. Always swift and exact, the German artist continues to push into the ultra immersive with a web of elements that whiz by for a peaktime lock in. Cold in attitude, Red Rooms tunnels through 'Limited Sensory' with quick drums and far-off percussive hits that rumble through the track. Stepping up afterwards is Lindsey Herbert with 'Oscillations in Space' - an appropriately named recording that experiments with mania as a tool for the dancefloor. Fast and spiraling, Herbert keeps her hands on the arpeggio's filter to contain tension through thunderous reverb transitions, balancing panic with pace. AgainstMe then stretches out the followup with the commanding 'Phase Shift' to double down on weight. Textural intimidation and stomping percussion is given the space it needs to perform on heavy weight sound systems, making it an austere middle point for Fuga. MAL HOMBRE then guides the listener to more elastic sound design in 'Critical Velocity', in a most appropriate Token fashion. Snowballing in intensity halfway through, MAL HOMBRE pushes the cutoff of his melody and programs snare rolls for vintage craze through the second section. Bells clash with ringing hats to fly the track along its course without looking back or letting go. Conor Wall takes control with 'The Strategy' that focuses on pace rather than melody, weaponizing metallic texture for a deep dancefloor experience. The ambiance does a lot of story telling here, marking breaks and riding through drops to provide grit to an already substantial record. This leads us to the final contribution in Fuga VII - 'Ad Libitum'. Here, Porteix emphasizes the conclusion of the compilation with mystery. The synths slither around pulsating rhythm, creating uninterrupted motion throughout the track's entirety. Porteix draws the curtains on an inquisitive note, keeping the suspense high until the next Fuga compilation comes around.

Debuting on Token with his 'Blind Witness' EP, Pierce serves high-intensity cuts produced with finesse and flare. An architect of wide dimension, the producer works meticulously not only on the bite of his elements but the textures that glue everything together. Diving into immersion, Pierce executes four surgically precise tracks that burst at the seams and onto the dancefloor. Beginning with ambient work, a haunting kick/bass combination follows shortly with metallic motion in the stereo field. Patient in its structure, the title track 'Blind Witness' takes its time to develop into a full capacity thriller by its midpoint. It's a dense product, but nothing oversteps its boundaries - a tip of the hat to question/answer techno that characterizes the most efficient records in the genre. Continuing in the spirit of demonic low-end, 'There is No Self' takes its turn. With a hand on the resonance, the bassline cuts through an eye twitchingly saturated rumble to later add a layer of bright plucks, filling up the spectrum to insure a firm grip on the dancefloor. Classic in construction yet cutting edge in technique, Pierce imposes the weight of the A side through the constant evolution of stark elements. 'Vulnus' follows to appropriately push depth into the EP, subtracting channels for a more intimate experience that remains anything but light. Shaking the lead throughout the track, the roundness of his bass meets perfectly with the punch of his percussion, swaying the hats in pitch to add a touch of psychosis. 'Secret Patterns' ends the EP on a slightly more vintage note. Increasingly playful on the drum machine, the lead and pad take a good amount of space occupying the mid range. Bubbly textures rise from the depths to pop at the surface in the second half and although Pierce's sound design on the project is usually very sharp, his dosage of rounder sounds like these make his tracks sound very complete and complimentary. This balance of design to compliment each element is a tough feat, but Pierce funnels his expertise into very precise intention, making 'Blind Witness' a force to be reckoned with already so early in the year.

Token Techno (Raw / Deep / Hypnotic)