Release date (vinyl & digital): 14th of May

A1: Bang Wap
A2: Bolt
B1: Say It Loud
B2: Shine

Token celebrates its 100th release with Luke Slater, a legend of the genre, releasing under one of his most iconic aliases: Planetary Assault Systems. For over 25 years, Slater has delivered unparalleled quality in his music - a formative figure in Techno and instrumental in defining the sound globally, few can touch the Brit for depth, urgency and hit rate.

Exhibiting near enough perfect renditions of classic dance-floor moods, the four track EP is a wrought iron rollercoaster through some of the artist’s most exacting work. Booming opener Bang Wap chugs unrelentingly while a lithe FX line does the bulk of the movement in the high mid range - building tension before a satisfying release in the last quarter. A2 Bolt is classic Planetary Assault Systems - hypnotic and driving with a single sequence dipping in and out of view. On the flip, Say It Loud could be an idiosyncratic hit waiting to happen - dry and tight in the drum department for maximum effect, and featuring a recurring vocal sample chopped and skewed for tension. Closer Shine takes a deeper, more psychedelic route with shades of the classic, jacking Detroit sound in the pitch bent lead line, but maintains the energy throughout with stylish delay sends upping the ante where required, all in all delivering a neat finish to the EP.

TOKEN100 - Planetary Assault Systems - Say It Loud

release date (vinyl / cd / digital): 21st of October

“I've intended to do an album for a long while. The tracks draw upon ideas going back to various points over the last 12 years or so - some of the hooks I wrote years ago other bits are brand new. In some ways I wanted it to reflect a personal arc and the way I tend to do things  - never rushed”

‘Frames of Reference’ is the some 12 years in the making debut album from UK based techno producer Ø [Phase].

Best known by his work on the Belgium based Token Records his style ranges from gritty minimal techno to Detroit influenced material. His debut ‘Module Overload’ was released on London’s Lost/Cosmic records in 2000 and was followed by a string of productions for London's Surface/Inceptive Records and Ben Sims Ingoma imprint.

The move to Token came in 2007, he shortly after began DJing professionally and has since performed at parties across the globe whilst becoming a regular guest at Berlin’s techno Mecca, Berghain performing alongside esteemed peers and supporters such as Marcel Dettmann, Len Faki and Ben Klock. His continued works have seen constant support throughout the techno world and have featured in CD mixes by Robert Hood, Dave Clarke, François Kevorkian and Fumiya Tanaka amongst others. Alongside his production work Ø [Phase] is also a mastering engineer and on/off artwork designer. Starting out at London’s prestigious Sony Music/Whitfield Street Studios, he has cut records for numerous underground dance acts as well as working on projects for mainstream artists.

Now after a string of acclaimed releases on Token and a selection of remixes for the likes of Robert Hood, Mark Broom and Peter Van Hoesen comes Ø [Phase]’s debut long-player ‘Frames of Reference’. Opening with the brooding and building swirl of ‘Binary Opposition (Process 3)’ Ø [Phase] sets out his template of evolving, richly textured atmospheres underpinned by shards of dark and light. ‘The Bwiti Initiate’ revolves around a bouncing techno rhythm that could most certainly traverse the house/techno divide whilst ‘Distracted’ and ‘Misaligned’ are the kind of unadulterated, pummeling, cavernous techno tracks that have made Lost such a party institution.
Then we have tracks like the soft beating ‘Just Another Dance’ providing a lighter edge, embellished with warmth and strings and the thick, densely woven tapestry of ‘Shadow Caster’ which goes from experimental to dancefloor and back again with consummate ease. The off-kilter lilt of ‘Perplexed’ drags us further into the dark before keys and a hint of a melody draw us back upwards for air whilst the fat driving bass of ‘Dirtro II’ and funkier edged menace of ‘On The Edge’ show a virtuoso producer at the top of his game. The closing introspection of ‘Self Deceit’ wallows in subtle nuances before a mid section synth and string intervention pulls us back from the brink before finally descending into the void.


Tracklist: 

2LP 
A1. Binary Opposition (process 3)
A2. The Bwiti Initiate
B1. Distracted
B2. Dirtro II
C1. Misaligned
C2. Just Another Dance (album version)
D1. Shadow Caster
D2. Self Deceit

CD & Digital:
1. Binary Opposition (process 3)
2. The Bwiti Initiate
3. Distracted
4. Dirtro II
5. On The Edge
6. Perplexed
7. Misaligned
8. Just Another Dance (album version)
9. Shadow Caster
10. Self Deceit

www.facebook.com/ashleyphase
www.residentadvisor.net/dj/phase 
www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords 

Frames Of Reference

Ø [Phase] - The Bwiti Initiate

Release date (vinyl & digital): 25th of March 2022

A1/1 Ignez - Celestial  
A2/2 Emily Jeanne - Red River Delta
B1/3 Altinbas & Cirkle - Uhlanga  
B2/4 Alarico - Spit 
C1/5 Dustmite - Filaments & Jaws
C2/6 Yant - Take The Reins 
D1/7 Marcal - Dancing Pursuit  
D2/8 Decka - Fractured

	
For the third installment of Token’s Fuga compilations, the label invites another list of 9 cutting edge artists to put their skills to the test. Ignez, Emily Jeanne, Altinbas & Cirkle, Alarico, Dustmite, Yant, Marcal, and Decka all offer their unique vision of contemporary club music for a collection of tunneling and intelligent cuts. 

Introducing the compilation, Ignez warms us up with the appropriately-named ‘Celestial’ - a 6 minute argument between melody and dissonance over a thick percussive line. Emily Jeanne then continues with ‘Red River Delta’ to lift some of the weight with a dissociative mind-bender. The crisp sound design and wide stereo image allow for an exhale before Altinbas and Cirkle introduce their collaboration ‘Uhlanga’. With our focus back on the body, the duo turn up the pace and prioritize groove. With rhythm at the forefront, depth is given to the track in the ambience, creating a rainforest-like atmosphere with resonant stabs streaking over the tighter low-end. Alarico then picks things up by taking advantage of this crescendo to present the energetic climax of the compilation with ‘Spit’. Hypnotism becomes almost paranoia with vocal cuts camouflaging themselves in the pulse of the track that only releases us with the occasional fleeting arpeggio. Walls rise and we’re in concrete for Dustmite’s ‘Filaments and Jaws’, which wastes no time in introducing itself with clear intentions and an imposing, low hi hat. He then lifts the record with a hovering main synth that drifts the experience back into a nervosity that complements the preceding track. It’s Yant’s turn to guide us with ‘Take the Reins’ - an almost nostalgic record with infectious chord stabs over a pounding 909, before leaving us with Marcal. ‘Dancing Pursuit’ is offered to the listener as another dance floor weapon with a density in its percussion and ambience that’s balanced by the sequence of the lead synth and creates a lot of energy. Decka then takes control with ‘Fracture’ with a brutally saturated kick over whipping two-bar synth loops to close out the compilation with a head-spinner.

TOKEN106 - Various Artists - Fuga III

Release date (vinyl & digital): 10th of June

TRACKLISTING:
A1. Devotion
A2. Devotion (Truncate Remix)
B1. Eden Tide
B2. Eden Tide (Barker Remix)

INFO:
Hot on the heels of his full-length LP 'Sky Scraping', Luke Slater is back as Planetary Assault Systems with a victory lap titled 'Devotion'. A trailblazer in techno with anticipation ahead of every release, Slater appoints complementary scene heavy weights Truncate and Barker for the remixes.

With the title track being reissued after its primary release on 'Sky Scraping', 'Devotion' opens the EP with what can only be described as raw drum machine psychosis. Slater whips up a classic tom-based 909 sequence with impact, keeping things straight to the point before introducing the defining vocal sample. Wasting no time with 1 bar melodies, Slater boosts up the resonance and LFO rates to create hypnotic textures with a large stereo spread to affirm the sheer size of the track. It comes as no surprise that 'Devotion' was picked up by Los Angeles's Truncate for the remix. Truncate employs the head-turning efficiency that's made his name a stylistic reference for the past 10 years for this remix, making the vocal cut seem like his idea to begin with. Stripping down the track to its bare essentials and emphasizing the rumble of the kick that clears the way for his original groove, Truncate surprises the listener with a progression into a more maximalist record than his fans might be used to. This marks a fair compromise with Slater's original track and makes for a reliable weapon for clubs everywhere. Slater then offers 'Eden Tide' as his B1 for this record, introducing a track independent of the LP. Here, Planetary Assault Systems fans find comfort in the cosmic synth lines and ambience that justify his name. This glides over a reliable groove with shaker-like hi-hats he's been known to use in the past coupled with an identifying progressive structure to make things even more hypnotic, making the track a recipe for acclaim. 'Eden Tide' could only be strengthened with a remix from Berghain resident Barker, who takes things even further into the mind with his signature kickless techno. Always picking up on the details, Barker takes advantage of the space given by Slater to offer his rendition of 'Eden Tide'. Barker lifts the mood with melody and dives into the subconscious through dub with delays and psychedelic movement, introducing the end of the EP with a meditative eye closer to smooth the edges of a rougher record.

TOKEN108 - Planetary Assault Systems - Devotion

Release date (vinyl & digital): 10th of March 

After a string of acclaimed releases on Token and a selection of remixes, Ø [Phase] released his debut album 'Frames Of Reference' on Token last fall. It earned him outstanding reviews at Resident Advisor ("a display of real power and finesse" 4/5), in DJmag ("a calculated masterpiece" 9,5/10), at XLR8R ("sticks out as an alternate route to the heart of machine music's appeal" 8/10), Groove Magazine ("pulsating techno in which every sonic details fits") and more.

Following the first single “On The Edge / Perplexed” & the second single “Dirtro II” (including the stellar ‘New Device Remix’ by Robert Hood), we now present you the last segment of the series with 2 remixes. On the A-side Rødhåd delivers an epic 10 minute interpretation of the first single ‘Perplexed’, while Robert Hood delivers a second, more minimalistic take on “Dirtro II” for the flip.

TRACKLISTING
A. Perplexed (Rødhåd's Extended Mix)
B. Dirtro II (Robert Hood's Redeemed Mix)

www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/ashleyphase
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords


Remixed

Ø [Phase]- Perplexed (Rødhåd's Extended Mix)

Release date (vinyl & digital): 7th of April 2023

Tracklist:
A1: Aventurine
A2: Seraphic
B1: Verdant
B2: Cure

Info:
	
Returning to Token with his second solo contribution for the label, Ignez invites us back into his sonic world with his new chapter ‘Aventurine’. Providing yet again a record with novel texture and spatial work, Ignez guides us through a 4 track project orchestrated with intent and skill. 

‘Aventurine’ introduces the EP assertively with his unmistakably cinematographic approach. The title-track proves to be of considerable dimension, a precise and impactful percussion-line cuts through distant atmospheres, rendered all the more dramatic with the presence of a cello. Ignez then takes down the narrative tone a notch to make space for the A2 ‘Seraphic’, narrowing his focus and stripping down the record. Giving the track time to sink in an expertly crafted tension, it isn’t until halfway through that the main attraction is revealed. Reverse, spiraling stabs dot along a persistently imposing rhythm to make ‘Seraphic’ very representative of a style that Ignez has claimed over the past few years. Whipping outward with white noise to accentuate the listener’s notion of space, we arrive finally to the second half of ‘Aventurine’. A perfect follow-up to the last cut awaits under the name ‘Verdant’. Dry percussion and string-like stabs, this time sharper and more metallic, make for a record where timing is the driving force. More mute than the previous tracks, ‘Verdant’ makes a perfect dip into the final element of the EP - ‘Cure’. Back into a more harmonic style, Ignez uses vocals and background synth work to create tonality before throwing in the ear-candy. Spacing out elements to conclude the EP in a meditative fashion, Ignez once again strikes a balance between technical knowhow and acute storytelling.

TOKEN115 - Ignez - Aventurine EP

Release date (vinyl & digital): 9th of February 2024

TRACKLIST:
A1. Enchant
A2. Bliss
A3. Veiled Dreams
B1. Euphoria
B2. Oceanid
C1. Drama
C2. Scene
D1. Delusional Bond
D2. Awakening
D3. Immersive Mind

INFO:
Ignez makes his Token comeback for a new format yet again, presenting his first ever LP with the Belgian label. One of the scene's most intriguing artists to emerge in the past few years, the young Dutchman has paved his road to acclaim by experimenting with sonic narratives and interpreting them with dance floor efficiency. Constantly working the conceptual intentions of his records, Ignez offers a refreshing take on club music by giving it his unmistakable touch of cinematic storytelling.

'Tides' is an ode to his personal connection with nature, and each track represents a shift in energy and emotional ambiance, rising and falling with each transition. With this approach, it only makes sense to release a project of this length; Ignez is able to tell his story through waves, washing over assertive rhythmic work with far off keys and soothing pads. Songs like the album's introduction 'Enchant' and 'Delusional Bond' inspire curiosity of what lies beyond murky waters and the impactful aftermath of these tracks explains the untameable quality of ocean tides through erratic percussion and razor-sharp sound design like in 'Bliss'. Ignez's synth work throughout 'Tides' is elusive if anything, swimming through his arrangements in an unpredictable manner. He tells the story of an environment that imposes the sometimes harsh rules of its territory with restless elements ready to jump out at any given moment. This feeling of almost powerlessness can be felt in 'Awakening' for example, a record that's bent on intrigue and suspense over a stomping four to thefloor kick. Curiosity, anticipation, discovery: these are all things that can describe the chosen theme and, of course, Ignez's work as a composer. The album serves as a look into the respect the artist has for unstoppable energy and his translation of it thereof through the expressive sound design and thick atmospheres that propelled him to the forefront of his scene.

TOKEN122LP - Ignez - Tides


Release date (3LP, cd & digital format): 3rd of November

TRACKLIST
1. Ø [Phase] - Insectoid
2. Lucy - Sana Sana Sana Cura Cura Cura
3. Ctrls - x.y
4. Rødhåd - Haumea
5. Planetary Assault Systems - The 808 Track (Parts 1 and 2)
6. James Ruskin - No Trace
7. Surgeon - Fixed Action Pattern
8. Inigo Kennedy - Arcing
9. Karenn - Pace Yourself

INFO
It was early 2007 when Inigo Kennedy inaugurated Token. Since that Identify Yourself 12” the Belgian label has gone from strength to strength, integrating both Kennedy and Ashley Burchett, aka Ø [Phase], into becoming integral cogs in the Token machine. In between releases by Grovskopa, Oscar Mulero and Go Hiyama, both Ø [Phase] and Inigo Kennedy dominated Token’s output, but it wasn’t until Burchett’s watershed Binary Opposition that Token received the shower of praise it deserved. Following this, label founder Kr!z issued three remix 12”s of that release which, including Token regulars, took in a profound cast of producers to reprocess “Binary Opposition” by the way of Sigha, Peter Van Hoesen, Planetary Assault Systems and Ben Klock. It was here Token stamped their authority on contemporary techno.

Since then Token has grown exponentially, bringing into their fold artists like Xhin, Mark Broom and Rødhåd, while Ctrls, formally one half of Northern Structures, has seen his solo career flourish on Token with the release of five records to date, and he joins Inigo Kennedy and Ø [Phase] as a label stalwart. Additionally this year, Orphx and Ancient Methods debuted their relentless Eschaton collaboration on Token, and Christian Wünsch’s Spherical Coordinates dalliance with Oscar Mulero has gained even more momentum with a second release called Kinematics Equations. Now, seven years after that debut Kennedy record, Token present Aphelion, a nine-track CD and triple vinyl grandstand of new and exclusive material from label regulars and like-minded artists whom Token founder Kr!z specifically commissioned for this milestone release.

The penultimate record before Aphelion was a second Token 12” by Rødhåd, another artist adding to the cultivation of the label’s sound and roster, and for this compilation the Berliner supplies his cosmically inspired “Haumea”. Joining the Dystopian founder on Aphelion are three of the UK’s most influential techno artists: Surgeon, James Ruskin and Luke Slater under his Planetary Assault Systems alias who provide Token with solo material for the first time after previously appearing on the imprint in remix form. Entirely new names to grace the label via Aphelion include Stroboscopic Artefacts founder Lucy, and Blawan and Pariah's Karenn project, while label faithfuls Inigo Kennedy,  Ø [Phase] and Ctrls naturally commit three Token defining productions.

Casting one’s eye over Token’s back catalogue and it’s clear to see the label is a staunch advocate of absolute techno, remaining steadfast in issuing quality material that remains true to classic strands of the genre regardless of its popularity flux. In that respect, Aphelion - a word used to describe the point in orbit when a planet or comet is farthest from the sun - provides a simple analogy that the magnetic force of Token, unfazed by the shadows cast by popular opinion, will proudly shine light on their artists and given styles. 

“We started in an era where our genre was very unpopular,” Kr!z explains. “And in the end that seemed a big advantage for us, because when everyone was giving up, we started our mission.” Regularly hosting label nights in prominent clubs around the world, Token has become a label supported by a wide-ranging body of artists like Âme and Ben Klock to Efdemin, Truss and Ancient Methods. With the label now branching out into album and compilation territory, Token’s duty to techno may not yet be accomplished, but it’s been a job well done.

www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords

Aphelion

Ø [Phase] - Insectoid

Lucy - Sana Sana Sana Cura Cura Cura

Karenn - Pace Yourself

Inigo Kennedy - Arcing

Kr!z live at HÖR, Berlin, Jul 27 / 2023
Video streaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfnN8EDR48Y

Tracklist:
Kashpitzky & Roll Dann – Unreleased
Jacom - Take a Walk
Josh Reeves - Erosion (Burden Remix) 
Border One – Optical Void
MDB - Unreleased
Jeff Mills - B2F 7
Frequency - Darkheart Energy (Marcal Remix)
Kr!z – Surge
MSDMNR - Ordinary Galaxy 
Augusto Taito – Lesson Learned
Altinbas – Presence
Tom.Healey – Focus
Kr!z – Marbles Lost
Hemka - Wrong Keys
Oliver ho & James Ruskin - Mutate And Survive
Mark Williams – Untitled
Jeroen Search - Six Requests 
Kr!z – Flare Gun
ZISKO - The Art of Restraint
Oscar Mulero – Unreleased
Orlando Voorn - Tone Exploitation (Luke Slater Remix)
Planetary Assault Systems – Raise Up
Pfirter – Unreleased
Casual Treatment & Kashpitzky – Unreleased
Endrew – Piston09
Jokasti Nek – Paresthisis
Vil – Unreleased
Surgeon – Sleep

Kr!z at HÖR - Jul 27  2023

Release date (vinyl & digital): 17th of May

TRACKLIST:
A1. The Sweat And The Salt
A2. The Reddish Glow
B1. Why Are You Holding a Gun?
B2. The Sunlight Blinded His Eyes

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.

TOKEN125 - Oscar Mulero - The Stranger

Release date (vinyl & digital): 13th of September

Tracklist:
A1 - Singular Anomalies - Partenope  
A2 - Ketch - Whispers  
B1 - Justyn Nell - Amaranth 
B2 - DHÆÜR - Sculpting The Mind 
C1 - Maasym - Intermediate Direction
C2 - Ray Kajioka - Black Hole  
D1 - Kameliia - Point Of View   
D2 - Kashpitzky & Casual Treatment - Diffusion 

Info:
With eight fresh tracks for the modern dance floor, Token writes another chapter of the Fuga series. Challenging new faces to complete the label’s sound, Fuga V is another focused compilation that balances spatial detail and rhythmic bite. 

Bubbly yet cosmic synth work opens the VA convincingly, a record for true Token fans. Dissonance, delay, slithering pads, and the occasional thundering 909 clap make ‘Partenope’ by Singular Anomalies an obvious choice as an opening, retaining the label’s original sound with a nice twist. With Singular Anomalies staying light on rhythm, Ketch quickly turns up the intensity with his contribution ‘Whispers’. Plowing through the ambiance with a heavy kick, the producer lines up a track of percussive melodic harmony with a moody groove. The followup by Justyn Nell, ‘Amaranth’ employs a classic, distorted bassline that runs persistently throughout the track with playful 909 work for the drums. A full force club controller now passed, the followup by DHÆÜR delves back into vast open spaces for a close-eyed, mental experience. ‘Sculpting the Mind’, appropriately named, breathes through with opening and closing background textures along a loopy lead. The introspective quality of this track is continued by Maasym, who takes things in an almost tribal direction with hypnotic wooden textures. ‘Intermediate Direction’ is a progressive addition to this edition of Fuga that serves as a dancefloor brain-soother. Taking things back to the roots with some old school machine work, we have ‘Black Hole’ by Ray Kaijoka. A nice psychotic arp leads the listener along into a surprisingly melodic arrangement supported by infectious drums, all of which is expertly crafted for club movement. Taking a dive, Kameliia gives us ‘Point of View’ which boasts a powerfully round low-end and an intense progression with far off strings that add a warm cinematic feel. Serious and effective, ‘Point of View’ is a track communicating tone and mediation. To close Fuga V, the dup Kashpitzky & Casual Treatment take matters into their own hands with a very high intensity record ‘Diffusion’. Huge cut transitions, saturated drums pushing the limit with a loud clap, and laser-like lead make for an impressive last chapter of Fuga V.

TOKEN127 - Various Artists - Fuga V

Release date (vinyl & digital): 8th of November

TRACKLIST:
A1. Flauta
A2. Despida
B1. Golpe
B2. Camarada

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.

TOKEN129 - Nørbak - Flauta

Release date (vinyl & digital): 24th of January

TRACKLIST:
A1. Voyage
A2. Stygious Night
B1. Venus Ballroom
B2. Psychosphere

INFO:
Securing his place in the scene as a mainstay after consecutively acclaimed releases on his own record label and beyond as well as lengthy touring around the globe’s best venues, Altinbas returns to Token the only way he knows how. The Fuse resident’s ethereal mark on driven techno comes this time with an aquatic touch, diving further into his bubbly architecture and melodic intrigue.

 

‘Voyage’ can mean many things; the past few years have been an incessant trip across the world's greatest sound systems and most dedicated audiences for the Belgian producer, or then perhaps it’s a reference to the climactic and emotional nature of his productions. In any case, it’s also the title track for his third EP on Token Records. Balancing warmth and anticipation, Altinbas is able pack in all the elements of a timeless record while still providing the space to breathe. Smooth and introspective, ‘Voyage’ kicks off the EP on a cloud of a club roller. ‘Stygious Night’ shares the first side with a more minimal but nonetheless effective approach. The tonal synth work on this record begs for a powerfully round system worthy of only the best dancefloors, and the space that washes around in the background gives it true dimension. Maintaining minimalism with structure through drum arrangement, ‘Stygious Night’ is reminiscent of a not so distant past in Berlin crafted with a clearly modern approach. As the record flips, ‘Venus Ballroom’ takes us by surprise with an uncommonly resonant sound at the forefront. This stylistic switch blends perfectly with historic tracks on the label that have come to define its sound since 2007. Hypnotic, psychotic, quirky, and mental - ‘Venus Ballroom’ proves a deep understanding of the music and appreciation of versatility. ‘Psychosphere’ closes down the EP with a classic sound of dissonant stabs to resonate through a foggy room. Altinbas highlights his sound with frantic clap sequences and short rides to keep his percussion rolling but dry while his synths create the acoustic he’s been known to craft for the past few years. To have everyone agree on level of taste and technical capability is tough, which is why this certainly won’t be the last time Altinbas will team up with Token to roll out his cutting-edge work.

TOKEN131 - Altinbas - Voyage EP

Release date (vinyl & digital): 21st of March

TRACKLIST:
A1: Defeat The Purpose
A2: Chrome Dust
B1: Ipso Facto
B2 Equilibrium

INFO:
For his next Token EP, Kr!z delivers squelchy synth sequences over robust kicks, reinforcing his no-nonsense approach to club music. Classic in its conception yet psychotic in effect, Ipso Facto is a record built for powerful sound systems during the night’s most delirious moments.
 

First impressions are important; the Belgian producer has never been one to waste time, and this record is no exception. What you hear is what you get—an anxiously slithering synth line makes his intentions clear in Defeat the Purpose, driving people to the dancefloor. Dry drum machine work thunders throughout, locking in the Token style with precision. Moving into the next track, ‘Chrome Dust’ focuses more on the tonal side of things and its irresistible groove makes it an instant ear catcher. Playful rides and snares shape the progression, with Kr!z swapping percussion elements to keep the movement lively.
The title track is a true hip swinger on the B1 as he reaches in the low end of the synth sequence to establish a very compelling rhythm. Everything in its right place, and not a hair more, the percussion transitions are reminiscent of his 4 channel DJ sets, the energy always being on the move. Equilibrium closes the EP with high energy, opening up filters over a reliably bouncy rhythm. Years of experience behind the decks can be very instructive for a perceptive producer, and Kr!z proves us just that in this track and in the whole EP.

TOKEN132 - Kr!z - Ipso Facto

Release date (vinyl & digital format): 18th of May 2015

TRACKLIST
A1 Anna Livia
A2 Enter
B1 Prime Mover
B2 Voltage
C1 Artefakt
C2 Astragral
D  Blue Note

INFO
Token certainly have their staples - Ctrls, Ø [Phase] or Inigo Kennedy making regular appearances. The last release on Token for example, Ø [Phase]'s 'Tunnel Vision/Internal Conflict' 12” showed the producer enjoys a level of familiarity with the label, allowing him to indulge his more leftfield tendencies, resulting in some truly captivating dancefloor moments.

Just as often Token will ingratiate new talent to the roster however, continuously reshaping their boundaries. The most recent record comes from one such new addition. In the wider sense though, it'd hardly be fair to call Parisian producer Antonin Jeanson aka Antigone fresh-faced. Since debuting in 2011 on Zadig's then relatively new Construct Re-Form label, Jeanson has enjoyed an impressively consistent run of releases, despite his penchant for sounds which are a little out of the ordinary.

His inaugural release with Kr!z's Token Records, the 'Cantor Dust' EP, is similarly reflective of his inclination to mix the abstract with the functional. Jeanson's movements across the release are difficult to second guess – 'Anna Livia' opens with Klaus Schulze reminiscent, spacial electronica, yet the serenity doesn't last for long. 'Enter' asserts Jeanson’s dancefloor sensibilities, chugging forward unfalteringly. The track builds at a steady pace, before the anthemic 'Prime Mover' provides a sudden release of tension. Jeanson’s reverberant stabs lunge forward, driving low-end thudding militantly beneath.

From here the EP dives back into more sinister territories - the serpentine 'Voltage' or gurgling, abstract melodies of 'Astragal' have a similarly rugged texture to them. 'Artefakt' is equally muscular, and undoubtedly one of the record's most climactic moments. The interplay between rasping mechanical percussion, booming low-end and grinding drones is rushingly intense.

'Cantor Dust's structure proves well-designed to the last however. The celestial 'Blue Note' provides a moment of reflection, distant synthesisers easing out gently - an emotive chord progression floating melancholically above Jeanson’s booming rhythms. It is the calm after the storm, a moment to savour, and reflect on the trip.

Words by Theo Darton-Moore. 

www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords

Cantor Dust - EP

TOKEN53 - Antigone - Cantor Dust

Release date (vinyl & digital): 18th of July

Tracklist:
A1 Skjöld - Forbidden City
A2 Tapefeed - Residual Memory
B1 Stephen Disario - Out Of Tune
B2 Merino - Memoria
C1 JSPRV35 - Question
C2 Terminus - Catch 22
D1 Sanna Mun - Binary Systems
D2 Mode_1 - Lifespan

Info:
Token presents the 6th chapter of the Fuga series. Challenging new faces to complete the label’s sound, Fuga VI is another focused compilation that balances spatial detail and rhythmic bite.

Skipping any introduction to dive straight into the essence of the compilation, Skjöld portrays ‘Forbidden City’ as a tense aquatic exploration. With pressure in the low end, he keeps the record alive by conjuring obscure pads to give dimension and intrigue to an already nervous track. This persistence is quickly met with weight; Tapefeed’s ‘Residual Memory’ follows up to tap into the label’s more aggressive side. Riddled with mechanical sound design bordering on the industrial, the Tapefeed duo creates dancefloor dominating energy that sets them apart with an all-out approach. The density of this second track feeds smoothly into Stephen Disario’s ‘Out Of Tune’ - a drum-forward record with dispersed texture. The LA based producer puts his hi hats brutally forward to cut through the space, finding a remarkable balance between its two sides and exploiting its confrontation. Returning to the label’s recognizable resonance, Merino steps in with ‘Memoria’ - a manic 5 minute synth loop with minimal percussion. Dealing in restraint and dissonance, Merino naturally finds a home in Fuga VI with this track before heading back into the peak time paranoia of JSPRV35 in ‘Question’. Pushing up the intensity and flicking through vintage percussion lines, ‘Question’ is an extraverted homage to the origins of techno that embodies flair. The track drives through the middle of Fuga with ease, bouncing rhythm off a sharp bassline with thundering claps and snares. ‘Catch 22’ by Terminus restores balance with minimalism but pace. A hypnotic break in the second half is sure to mesmerize dancers and home listeners alike. Stuttering hats shake throughout ‘Catch 22’ to push the track along, keeping the harmony low and maintaining focus on the movement. With a similar tempo, Sanna Mun follows up with ‘Binary Systems’. A speedrun through an acid-like bassline, the track’s rhythm is obsessive and persistent as we reach the conclusion of the compilation. Fuga VI comes full circle with a ghostly track by Mode_1 called ‘Lifespan’, stretching time and tunneling through with booming toms and shuffled hats. Keeping the pressure high and maintaining that never ending energy is the only way to wrap up such a high energy release and Mode_1 does just that. 

TOKEN133 - Various Artists - Fuga VI

Release date (vinyl & digital): 12th of September 2025

TRACKLIST:
A1: Flashback
A2: W9Y
B1: Ascender
B2: Break Nation

INFO:

Unmistakable are the sonic experiments of Spanish alchemist ORBE; with this fresh release on Token. ORBE’s iconically viscous textures and impactful percussion weasel their way into ‘Ascender’ for a deeper release on Kr!z’s label. Thick, brooding atmospheres drive these tracks into stories of pursuit and escape throughout its four tracks.  

A slick, pulsating low end in ‘Flashback’ stands out as a first impression for an imposing EP. Electric leads zip by for maximum psychosis; he’s known for his uncompromising dissonance and drive. A staple of the Spanish scene, ORBE bites down hard on deep and hypnotic techno to resonate through concrete warehouses. This jagged edge to club music continues through ‘W9Y’ - a more drum-forward cut with noisy transitions and breathable synthwork. Sharper stabs occupy this space as opposed to the track’s predecessor and tension is maintained with a lingering pad in the background. A meditative conclusion for the A side, ORBE quickly shifts his attention in the titletrack ‘Ascender’. Emphasizing tone and tune on the kick, the lead comes with confrontation. Rolling through shifting hats, the producer brings boiling tension through minimal arrangement and the weight of his sound design - a skillset only the most seasoned artists can claim. To close things out, ‘Break Nation’ does just that - cutting off the traditional four/four rhythm and instead presenting itself as a bass stepper. With ORBE’s classic unison packed synths, this dweller presents a whole other perspective on ‘Ascender’. A hybrid of influences and yet still destined for the techno dancefloor, this breath of fresh air serves as deep dive into the subconscious for an eyes-closed experience.

TOKEN134 - ORBE - Ascender

Release date (vinyl & digital): 10th of October 2025

TRACKLIST:
A1. Second Skin
A2. The Ring
B1. Neon
B2. Blood

INFO:
With his first EP on Token, Phara conjures up four tracks detailing dancefloor impact with robust personality. In ‘Second Skin’, the Belgian artist is eager for resolution, keeping tension high with the bold analog sound he’s known for. Coming eye to eye with the label’s sound, Phara pays homage to Token while fiercely defending years of artistic direction - layering the label’s astral ambiance with his unstoppable movement.

‘Second Skin’ sets Phara’s intentions clear. The titletrack rolls forward like heavy machinery with what seems like shifting vocals breathing life into the stereo image. This first cut is a gold standard of peaktime production, creating a sense of purpose at the core of urgency. Claps and rides boom and whip around the track that lumbers on with chord stabs to add soul to flare. ‘The Ring’, however, takes the listener into another direction. Heavily centered on the drum sequence with a sharp slap-back delay, Phara plays with resonance, sparking psychosis amongst movement. Playful in the short term, ‘The Ring’ proves to be an ultra-hypnotic track reserved for a set’s high intensity stretches on an already surrendered dancefloor. Taking this energy and pulling it in, ‘Neon’ comes to establish a bit more intimacy at first. Here, the producer diffuses his elements into themselves and, in turn, creates a thick ambiance that drives the record forward in space and dissonance. ‘Neon’ is inquisitive and almost spiritual in its effect, playing with the line between a unified dancefloor and an introspective journey. The conclusion to the EP is ‘Blood’, a return to dryer production - at least in the beginning. Ambient, almost psychedelic synth work sucks in the listener over unwavering energy to create a closing track worthy of its name. Rolling through to the end, ‘Blood’ delivers the final blow to an insatiable record on Token by Phara. 

TOKEN135 - Phara - Second Skin

Release date (vinyl & digital): 10th of October 2025
Pre order: https://tokenrecords.bandcamp.com/album/second-skin

TRACKLIST:
A1. Second Skin
A2. The Ring
B1. Neon
B2. Blood

INFO:
With his first EP on Token, Phara conjures up four tracks detailing dancefloor impact with robust personality. In ‘Second Skin’, the Belgian artist is eager for resolution, keeping tension high with the bold analog sound he’s known for. Coming eye to eye with the label’s sound, Phara pays homage to Token while fiercely defending years of artistic direction - layering the label’s astral ambiance with his unstoppable movement.

‘Second Skin’ sets Phara’s intentions clear. The titletrack rolls forward like heavy machinery with what seems like shifting vocals breathing life into the stereo image. This first cut is a gold standard of peaktime production, creating a sense of purpose at the core of urgency. Claps and rides boom and whip around the track that lumbers on with chord stabs to add soul to flare. ‘The Ring’, however, takes the listener into another direction. Heavily centered on the drum sequence with a sharp slap-back delay, Phara plays with resonance, sparking psychosis amongst movement. Playful in the short term, ‘The Ring’ proves to be an ultra-hypnotic track reserved for a set’s high intensity stretches on an already surrendered dancefloor. Taking this energy and pulling it in, ‘Neon’ comes to establish a bit more intimacy at first. Here, the producer diffuses his elements into themselves and, in turn, creates a thick ambiance that drives the record forward in space and dissonance. ‘Neon’ is inquisitive and almost spiritual in its effect, playing with the line between a unified dancefloor and an introspective journey. The conclusion to the EP is ‘Blood’, a return to dryer production - at least in the beginning. Ambient, almost psychedelic synth work sucks in the listener over unwavering energy to create a closing track worthy of its name. Rolling through to the end, ‘Blood’ delivers the final blow to an insatiable record on Token by Phara.

PREMIERE - Phara - Blood (TOKEN135)

Release date (vinyl & digital): 14th of November 2025

TRACKLIST:
A1. Where Is Now
A2. Time Drift
B1. Echo State
B2. Split Recall

INFO:
	
At this point a regular contributor in defining Token’s sound, Border One steps up for his sixth EP on the label in five years. As in many of his past projects, ‘Where is Now’ bleeds character through effect for a trip on the dancefloor. 

Establishing the ambiance of the record, Border One meets pace with depth in the titletrack A1. A pressing bassline and progressively squelching synth accents combine to press the dancefloor, decorated with flickering hi hats. The track remains a steady roller throughout while maintaining an underlying attitude that only adds to its initial drive. Focusing back his energy on percussion, Border One prioritises eccentric groove with insistent tone. ‘Time Drift’ reaffirms his minimalist approach to the EP, only inviting anxious drum sequences with rising rides in the second half. The portal opens steadily in ‘Time Drift’, establishing a slightly more meditative tone than he’s done in the past. ‘Echo State’ returns to resonance, a sound well fit for the label. With quick loops and a heavy focus on the hypnotic, in a dancefloor-commanding kind of way, the Belgian artist gives his signature sound that rolls effortlessly off of well tuned soundsystems. With a tight grip on the track’s pressure, Border One transitions into the final track ‘Split Recall’. Here, he finds a direct path through a heavily psychedelic landscape. Bringing in occasional high pitched synth sequences and cutting through claps while the stereo field turns and evolves, Border One creates a closing track with attention to detailing his arrangement and variance. Rolling off in one section to stomping through others, the Belgian artist proves once more that his sound continues to be reinvented throughout his work.

TOKEN136 - Border One - Where Is Now

Release date (vinyl & digital): 6th of February 2026

TRACKLIST:
A1. Sonho
A2. Leveza
B1. Chuva
B2. Capa

INFO:
Checking back into Token with his unmistakable sound, Nørbak's 'Chuva' delivers four relentless slices of modern techno. Stretching textures and grilling circuits, the EP presents itself as a statement expressing a high pressure dancefloor experience.

A proper introduction is never far from the Portuguese artist who has consistently pulled inspiration from ambient and experimental music. With one minute of drone to seemingly guide the experience, a swift switch decidedly flexes 'Sonho'. Bending pitch and texture is a big theme in 'Chuva' and the A1 leaves nothing to the imagination as Nørbak makes his intentions as clear as ever. Switching to 'Leveza', the producer takes a minimalist approach with accents on the percussive arrangements. Whipping delays on off-beat drum hits create an unreal acoustic environment while maintaining a maximum amount of tension. The synth line remains insistent as rides and various hi hats urge the track into psychosis with every transition. The titletrack 'Chuva' takes a similar approach in the power of warm sound design, but this time we see a focus on warped melodics that are blissfully mixed in a track constantly bordering on chaos. Opening and closing the space, Nørbak takes to detuning his main synthline to create eruptive sections in the record while brewing a storm of ambience in the stereo field. As the final chapter, 'Capa' bends almost to a break. Rhythmically expressive in every way, the track drives the EP home with a dangerous bassline and dry percussion to ride off of it. Signing off for this latest contribution to Token records, Nørbak's flare in the studio reasserts his position as one of techno's most anticipated creators of recent years.

TOKEN137 - Nørbak - Chuva

PREMIERE - Nørbak - Leveza (TOKEN137)

Release date (vinyl & digital): 20th of March 2026

TRACKLIST:
A1. Blind Witness
A2. There Is No Self
B1. Vulnus
B2. Secret Patterns

INFO:
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.

TOKEN138 - Pierce - Blind Witness

Release date (vinyl & digital format): 19th of August 2016

After joining the Token family with the release of Our Father/A Better Way Of Living in 2015, Sigha is back with another double A-side in the same vein as the last: A booming, atmospheric achievement, once again showcasing his signature attention to detail and exploring the concepts of purity, faith and religion.
 
The resounding intensity of Christ Figures is layered with emotive and staccato melodic elements. At times distant, and then rising to the forefront of the soundscape; in their more muted moments these elements only hint at the form of a melody, their restraint heightening the track's sense of melancholic romanticism.
 
On the other side, Sigha advances on the themes from the track Puritan on his 2012 album Living with Ghosts. New Puritan offers a similar hypnotism, with an untiring interaction between mid-range and bass that demands transfixion from the offset and retains it until the end.

TRACKLIST
A. Christ Figures
AA. New Puritan

www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords

TOKEN63 - Sigha - Christ Figures / New Puritan

Release date: 3rd of November 2017 (vinyl & digital format)

Sigha - Metabolism Remixes (TOKEN77)

TRACKLIST
a1 - Black Massing (Wata Igarashi 'Dusk Falls' Remix)
a2 - Morning Star (Marco Shuttle Remix)
b1 - Down (Function Remix)
b2 - Black Massing (Wata Igarashi 'Daylight Breaks' Remix)

Sigha’s lauded Metabolism album is further commended with a remix EP for Token 77. With three highly qualified label newcomers enlisted to the task of reimagining aspects of the album, the music is reworked into a new context to powerful effect. 
 
Wata Igarashi’s flourishing recognition as a producer with striking competence and flair has marked him as a valuable affiliate on the record. He demonstrates different areas of focus with two new versions of Black Massing. The Daylight Breaks Remix opens up the high-end, expressing the delicate harmonics of the original with rushing upward arpeggios. The Dusk Falls Remix instead hones in on the deep and anticipatory nature of its foundation. 
 
Marco Shuttle’s foreboding Morning Star remix feels skilfully subtractive, magnifying elements by adding space and drawing focus to its melodic asides. Function plays with the contemplative nature of Down in his version, adding dynamic percussion and energy while retaining its expression and depth.

Sigha - Down (Function Remix)

PHASE - BINARY OPPOSITION REPROCESSED 

release date: 25th of June 2012 (vinyl &amp; digital)

TRACKLIST

part 1:
a: Sigha Process
aa: Peter Van Hoesen Process

part 2:
a: Planetary Assault Systems Process
aa: Ctrls Process

part 3: 
a: Ben Klock Process
aa: Inigo Kennedy Process

INFO
 
Beginning of 2012 Phase caused quite a storm in techno’s landscape with the release of ‘Binary Opposition’. Both versions, “Process 1 &amp; 2”, fierce pieces of relentless yet deep techno, got on heavy rotation by Blawan, Ben Klock, Surgeon, Marcel Dettmann, Dave Clarke, to name a few.
 
A few months later, we present ‘Binary Opposition Reprocessed’. Assembling a remix package for this project wasn’t a difficult task, as all remixers were noted fans of the original tracks and supporters of Phase as an artist.

Phase - Binary Opposition (Ben Klock Process)

Release date (vinyl & digital): 28th of Janaury 2013

Six years ago, Token was born with the release of Inigo Kennedy's 'Identify Yourself'. Since then, each of his EP's has been a milestone in the label's growth and this new 3-tracker promises to be no different.

Title track ‘Cathedral’ has you floating under its arches at a sheer height above the heads of its 
worshipers, while ‘Chamber’ takes you back down straight to the centre of the dance floor. Closing the EP is the graceful ‘Accordion’, which could be the soundtrack to a lucid dream.

Token starts 2013 in pure Inigo Kennedy style: dark, refined and oh so magnetic.

TRACKLIST
A. Inigo Kennedy - Cathedral
B1. Inigo Kennedy - Chamber
B2. Inigo Kennedy - Accordion

www.inigokennedy.com
www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/inigo.kennedy.music
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords

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