Border One - Echoes From The Abyss [Token]

For this new Token installment, Brussels’ very own Border One presents “Echoes from the Abyss”, another modular, dynamic project, geared for sound systems in controlled settings. Across these four tracks, the seasoned producer does what he does best: connect with the dance floor through his characteristic sound design and use of space.

“Echoes from the Abyss”, both the track and the EP, is a collection of sonic associations that are synonymous with Border One’s style. Resonant and cerebral, yet at the same time energetic and full of groove, the A1 showcases a shimmering veil of synthesizers that make for a truly hypnotic effect. The track that follows relies much more on sequencing, focusing on the interactions between elements. The producer freely toys with his drum machine, responding to a classic, repetitive, dissonant lead synth that insists from beginning to end. Tension is everything, especially when it meets a sustained chord in the second half, transforming the track into a weapon of suspense.

“Celestial Observer” comes back straight and to the center with a focused tone and a progressive arrangement. With a thick bass and piercing highs, Border One explores percussive patterns and filter sweeps to build an intense experience, at times closing your eyes on the dance floor.

Diving back into the dark with the last track, “Escaping the Void” adopts a more minimal style that allows for some breathing room after the previous denser productions. Concluding with a question mark is always appropriate, and here we find ourselves with a track caught between ethereal soundscapes and tense implications.

With “Escaping the Void”, Border One closes his newest contribution to Token with his usual elegance, appealing to veterans of the genre as well as new listeners.