Dold - Rider EP [Fuse Imprint]

Fuse strikes again with a third timeless, gritty and soulful techno release from Sweden’s Dold. ‘Rider’ embodies four distinct examples of masterfully produced techno, capturing every facet of one of club music’s most enduring genres. Diffuse mechanics, repetitive chord sequences and hard-hitting rhythms make for a particularly infectious record for both dancefloor newcomers and longtime fans.

The A1 on a four-track EP is usually destined to make an impression, an enticing introduction to draw the listener into discovering the rest of the project, and Dold does exactly that with ‘Smile’. A twisted name for an intimidating opening track, the producer manages a minimalistic composition to make way for an invasive acid line, resulting in a punchy climax. ‘Smile’ exerts power with a sharp background atmosphere to make its intentions clear; however, the following track balances the tone to bring things back into the groove. ‘Old News’ adopts a more playful production style, blurring the line between percussive and synth work. Repetitive chords sounding almost like compressed toms, resonating over an animated drum sequence with a powerful kick and flickering hi-hats. The clap rolls before returning to the kick give this track a truly vintage quality, while remaining relevant for the modern dancefloor.

The title track ‘Rider’ fits perfectly as an answer to its predecessor. Dold is not afraid to add a bit of sparkle to what might have been expected to be a colder addition to his EP, and this gives it a considerable amount of character that has become synonymous with his sound. Bright keys and supporting synths have plenty of space, creating a much sought-after dancefloor euphoria. Melodically rich and percussively dominated, the Swede explores ‘Rider’ with openness and curiosity, making this the perfect track to name the project. As the end approaches, Dold reveals the last part of his contribution to Fuse. Softening his synth sequence to be a bit more ethereal than the previous three, he is able to create a completely new atmosphere by gliding through ‘Rich String’, which calms the listener for the conclusion of his EP, a true reflection of Fuse’s brand of techno.