Token Records | NovaFuture Blog

out now: Border One – Echoes From The Abyss EP [Token Records]

Artist:
Border One

Title:
Echoes From The Abyss EP

Label:
Token Records

Cat#:
TOKEN130

Release Date:
29th November 2024

Format:
vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist:
A1.
Echoes From The Abyss

A2.
Solar Flare

B1.
Celestial Observer

B2.
Escaping The Void

Press Info:
In this next installment of Token, Brussels’ own Border One steps in to showcase ‘Echoes from the Abyss’, another swinging, modular-driven project destined for controlled sound systems. In these four tracks, the seasoned producer does what he knows best: engaging the dancefloor through his signature sound design and use of space.

‘Echoes from the Abyss’ the track, like the EP, is a collection of sound associations that are synonymous with Border One’s sound. Resonant and cerebral yet bouncy and full of groove, the A1 presents a shimmering veil of synthwork that gives off a truly hypnotic effect. The follow up is much more sequence-based, focusing on the elements’ interactions. The producer plays along freely with his drum machine, responding to a classically loopy and dissonant main synth that insists its way from beginning to end. Tension is everything, especially when met with a sustained chord in the second half, turning the record into a weapon of suspense. ‘Celestial Observer’ comes back straight and center with a focused tone and a progressive arrangement. With a thick low end and shrill highs, Border One flicks through percussion patterns and filter sweeps to make an intense, at times close eyed dancefloor experience. Ducking back into obscurity for the last track, ‘Escaping the Void’ takes on a more minimally produced style that breathes a bit after its previous, denser productions. Concluding with a question mark is always very appropriate, and here we’re faced with a record caught between ethereal soundscapes and tense implications. With ‘Escaping the Void’, Border One closes with his latest contribution to Token with class as always, appealing to genre veterans and newcomers alike.

Snippets:

Full Track Streaming:
“Escaping The Void”

“Solar Flare”

“Celestial Observer”

more soon

Special:
“La Nature 2024”

Recommendations:
Border One’s “Weaving Shadows EP” on Border One Records
Border One’s “Morph EP” on Border One Records
Border One’s “Apex EP” on Voltage
Border One’s “Host EP” on Border One Records
Border One’s “Samadhi EP” on Knowledge Imprint
Border One’s “Restless EP” on SK_Eleven
Border One’s “Bygone EP” on Voltage
Border One’s “Abyssal EP” on Border One Records
Border One’s “Insight EP” on Wolfskuil Records
Border One’s “Restive EP” on Escapism
Border One’s “Unspoken Voices EP” on Invite Records
Border One’s “Despair EP” on Form And Function
Border One’s “Throw EP” on Ressort Imprint
all stuff on Token Records we featured

Buy Vinyl:
Border One @ Bandcamp
Deejay
Decks
Juno
Red Eye Records
Clone
HHV
Hardwax
more soon

Buy Download:
Border One @ Bandcamp
Qobuz
Beatport
iTunes
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Deezer
Apple Music
Spotify
Youtube Music

Booking:
Border One

Websites:
Border One
Token Records

out now: Nørbak – Flauta EP [Token Records]

Artist:
Nørbak

Title:
Flauta EP

Label:
Token Records

Cat#:
TOKEN129

Release Date:
08th November 2024

Format:
vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist:
A1.
Flauta

A2.
Despida

B1.
Golpe

B2.
Camarada

Press Info:
A natural fit for the Token label and now a regular contributor, Nørbak presents his new release ‘Flauta’ on the Belgian imprint. Keeping things driving and dense, his productions boast a raw intensity, continuing to describe spacious rooms with roaring atmospheres.

The title track serves as a firm introduction to the project; ‘Flauta’ is a typical Nørbak A1. Claps on the kick, thick sound design on all levels, and tribal percussion make for an imposing first track. Finding groove in the chaos is never difficult for the Portuguese artist, his seamless blend of functional and mental techno make for quite a recognizable sound with reliable effect. On the other hand, his followup ‘Despida’ sharpens the tone and focuses its elements. Proving he can do just as much damage with a more minimal approach, Nørbak drops the claps for shakers and whips up a distorted stab as the main driver of the track. Despite the versatility of his records, there is something very homogenous about the tonality of his drums and synths – they seem electric, and ‘Despida’ truly nails that aesthetic. Moving on to the B side, we have yet another facade of the project. While ‘Golpe’ has a classic foundation, Nørbak’s flamboyant sound design guides the track’s arrangement, making anything but a loop. The record’s structure makes for clear accents that insist on a pulsating atmosphere. This moves perfectly into the EP’s conclusion. ‘Camarada’ resembles more ‘Despida’ in the minimal construction, retaining a lot of the squelching lead textures. Mastering the question/answer style of techno, Nørbak is able to capitalize on the tonality of his sonic experiments to create swing on the dance floor. Obscure, quick, and elusive, Nørbak wraps up ‘Flauta’ with restraint and efficiency.

Snippets:

Full Track Streaming:
“Despida”

“Camarada”

more soon

Special:
“Recorded Live at Fuse (26/04/24)”

Recommendations:
all stuff on Token Records we featured

Buy Vinyl:
Token @ Bandcamp
Deejay
Decks
HHV
Clone
Red Eye Records
Juno
Hardwax
more soon

Buy Download:
Token @ Bandcamp
Qobuz
Beatport
iTunes
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Spotify
Apple Music
Deezer
Youtube Music

Booking:
Nørbak

Websites:
Nørbak
Nørbak @ Instagram
Token Records

out now: Kr!z – Angels Landing EP [Token Records]

Artist:
Kr!z

Title:
Angels Landing EP

Label:
Token Records

Cat#:
TOKEN128

Release Date:
11th October 2024

Format:
vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist:
A1.
Angels Landing

A2.
Medusa

B1.
Oblivion

B2.
Ninth Circle

Press Info:
In the wake of a string of record releases, Token’s curator returns to his label with ‘Angels Landing’ to highlight his mission statement. Four cuts of delirious and dissonant techno from the Belgian artist have proven to be a stylistic favorite in both his productions and his DJ sets. With a wink to older production techniques, Kr!z keeps this contribution to Token fresh and efficient while reaffirming the historic label’s sonic identity.

While using a steady bassline for his tracks, Kr!z ups the ante with a Detroit-style pad that floats around the rest of the record for the ‘Angels Landing’ title track. By opening and closing hihats, rolling the claps all along, and pitching his rides, he creates tension by fully utilizing his drum machine. The synth stabs and overall pace make for a modern twist, however; it’s applicable music for layered sets that the Token boss has been known for performing over the years. This dance-ready, nostalgic-nudging kind of techno is spread throughout the entirety of the EP, but is most transparent on the B1 ‘Oblivion’. Key stab sequences have been iconic in the scene for some time, but it’s Kr!z’s persistence and minimalism that renders this track so exciting. Opening and shutting filters, sliding portamento, and pushing the release, the seasoned artist manifests tension through minimal elements and relies on his transitions to keep up the pace. Usually juggling between rounder and sharper sound design, ‘Medusa’ boasts both; Kr!z’s electric lead bites a low- swaying synth line. Destined for peak use, complete with white noise transitions and open rides, Kr!z combines the sound of a club at its climax with his almost psychotic low-mid arpeggio to create one of his most hypnotic tracks to date. ‘Ninth Circle’, on the other hand, dials it back as the last track. More keys, yet obscure in intention and effect, the closer creates a question mark at the end of the EP with big transitions and a groovy use of toms. Cementing himself as a game player in production as much as in DJing, Kr!z’s ‘Angels Landing’ continues his search in eerie sounds and expressive drums to add to his label’s catalog of savant club music.

Snippets:

Full Track Streaming:
“Medusa”

“Oblivion”

“Angels Landing”

Special:
“CLOSERcast #082”

Recommendations:
Kr!z’ “Horo EP” on Blueprint Records
Kr!z’ “Revelation EP” on Blueprint Records
Kr!z’ “Neutrino EP” on Blueprint Records
all stuff on Token Records we featured

Buy Vinyl:
Kr!z @ Bandcamp
Deejay
Juno
Decks
HHV
Clone
Red Eye Records
more soon

Buy Download:
Kr!z @ Bandcamp
Qobuz
Beatport
iTunes
TraxSource
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Deezer
Apple Music
Youtube Music

Booking:
Kr!z

Websites:
Kr!z
Token Records

out for a while: Inigo Kennedy – The Calling EP [Token Records]

Artist:
Inigo Kennedy

Title:
The Calling EP

Label:
Token Records

Cat#:
TOKEN126

Release Date:
28th June 2024

Format:
vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist:
A1.
Magnitude Seven

B1.
The Calling

B2.
Out Of The Woods

Press Info:
As Token gears up for its 126th release, the time has come to invite a label favorite – Inigo Kennedy. The Englishman responsible for Token 1 readies us for three tracks of pure grain and warbling melodies packaged as ‘The Calling’ – a hypnotic yet stomping club record that highlights his unique production style full of character.

Taking up the entirety of the A side, ‘Magnitude Seven’ pulses itself through the first part of the ep. Melodic yet dissonant as many of Kennedy’s best records, the track calls on a stripped down acid line to support a saturated groove and noisy synthwork. Epic in construction, ‘Magnitude Seven’ comes in waves of unsettling intensity emphasized by a powerful double kick sequence. The B1 takes it up a notch as the title track appropriately named ‘The Calling’. A frantic four to the floor rhythm pushes along sustained notes, settling in a certain pressure. Harmonic sections breathe more life in an otherwise nail biting record that defines the Token sound accurately and Kennedy uses this arrangement to distance himself from the classic loop based template used by most producers in his field today, confirming the ongoing relevance of a longstanding career in club music. Ending with a bit of a twist for most, longtime fans will be unsurprised by the choice to wrap things up with ‘Out of the Woods’ – a fitting electronica closer that departs from ‘The Calling’ with a focus on introspection. Drifting notes and a shuffled percussion line are reminiscent of his UK roots and fit perfectly as an epilogue to his previous techno tracks. Ethereal as ever, Inigo Kennedy offers us another masterclass in out of the box production techniques in soulful electronic music.

Snippets:

Full Track Streaming:
“Out Of The Woods”

“The Calling”

Special:
“@ Sonntags x LAUT [March 2024 · Barcelona]”

Recommendations:
Inigo Kennedy’s “Thinking Of UA” on Asymmetric Records
Inigo Kennedy’s “Eyes Closed In The Sun” on Asymmetric Records
Inigo Kennedy’s “Recovery Mode EP” on Asymmetric Records
Inigo Kennedy’s “Arcadian Falls EP” on Voltage
all stuff on Token Records we featured

Buy Vinyl:
Inigo Kennedy @ Bandcamp
Deejay
Juno
Decks
HHV
Clone
Red Eye Records
Hardwax
more soon

Buy Download:
Inigo Kennedy @ Bandcamp
Qobuz
JunoDownload
Bleep
Boomkat
TraxSource
iTunes
Beatport
Hardwax
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Spotify
Deezer
Apple Music
Youtube Music

Websites:
Inigo Kennedy
Token Records

out now: Oscar Mulero – The Stranger [Token Records]

Artist:
Oscar Mulero

Title:
The Stranger

Label:
Token Records

Cat#:
TOKEN125

Release Date:
17th May 2024 (vinyl & selected digital services)
31st May 2024 (other digital services)

Format:
vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
The Sweat And The Salt

02.
The Reddish Glow

03.
Why Are You Holding A Gun?

04.
The Sunlight Blinded His Eyes

Press Info:
Known for his intense DJ sets and heavily textured productions, Oscar Mulero embodies all that has made him a central figure in the international techno scene in ‘The Stranger’. His first release on Token since 2021’s ‘Titan’, the Spaniard announces his return the only way he knows how, through layered concoctions of noisy synth work and impactful percussion wrapped up in a four track EP of impressive weight.

The record’s first track ‘The Sweat and the Salt’ is a representative introduction to the rest of the project. Mulero holds nothing back with his moody, obscure style and funnels measured grit into every detail he can. Hypnotic to its core but noisy and saturated enough to give it an industrial edge, the intricacies of this first track are upheld and continued in ‘The Reddish Glow’. Here, we have more of a melodic back and forth being played between synth sequences. With no small dose of reverb to open up the dimension of the track, the incessant tapping of high to low frequency plucks make it a destabilizing mind trip of a club record. Complete with racing hi hats and his signature kick, Mulero plays with his elements to ensure depth in disorientation. ‘Why Are You Holding a Gun’ flattens up the space a little bit, creating more of a two-dimensional ambiance and taking synth distortion to a new level. A mess of an analog sequence hissing in the high end is paced out by metallic rides and short hi hats, making an effective dancefloor instrument. As powerful as ever, the PoleGroup boss controls his chaos with rhythmically questionable elements that add to the general delirium of ‘The Stranger’. As the final chapter, ‘The Sunlight Blinded His Eyes’ is the perfect arrival to a stomping EP. A meditative pad hovers in the back while a rhythmically centered track forms, shuffling through drum patterns and an infectious bassline. Still packing a punch in the kick, this final song takes us out into the cosmos after a high pressure club music display by one of Spain’s most respected contributors to techno.

Snippets: