Various Artists - Fuga V (2x12") [Token Records]

With eight new tracks for the modern dancefloor, Token writes another chapter of the Fuga series. Challenging new faces to complete the label sound, Fuga V is another focused compilation balancing spatial detail and rhythmic intensity.

Bubbling yet cosmic synths convincingly open this VA, a record for the true Token fanatics. Dissonance, delay, gliding pads, and the occasional thunderous 909 kick make Singular Anomalies' "Partenope" an obvious choice to open, retaining the original label sound with an interesting twist. Whilst Singular Anomalies stays light on rhythm, Ketch quickly ramps up the intensity with his contribution "Whispers." Bursting into the atmosphere with a strong kick drum, the producer lines up a percussive melodic harmony track with a murky groove. Next up, Justyn Nell's "Amaranth" employs a classic distorted bass that persistently runs throughout the track with playful 909 work for the percussions. Now that we have gone through a full-throttle club banger, DHÆÜR brings us back to vast open spaces for a closed-eye mind trip. "Sculpting the Mind," appropriately titled, breathes with background textures that open and close around a cyclical melody. The introspective quality of this track is continued with Maasym, who takes things in an almost tribal direction with hypnotic wooden textures. "Intermediate Direction" is a progressive addition to this Fuga edition which acts as a cerebral soother for the dancefloor. Taking things back to basics with classic machine work, we have Ray Kaijoka's "Black Hole." A psychotic and pleasing arpeggio guides the listener into a surprisingly melodic arrangement, backed by infectious percussions, all carefully crafted for club motion. Diving deeper, Kameliia provides us with "Point of View," which boasts a powerfully rounded bass and intense progression with far-off strings adding a warm cinematic feel. Serious and effective, "Point of View" is a track that communicates tone and meditation. To close out Fuga V, the duo Kashpitzky & Casual Treatment takes control with a sky-high intensity track: "Diffusion." Huge cutting transitions, saturated percussions pushed to the limit with a strong clap and a laser-like lead, make this the impressive final chapter of Fuga V.