various: momentum (10 years of token)

Over the last ten years, Token Records has grown steadily, both in size and stylistic breadth. The aptly-titled Momentum comes as a celebration of the close-knit family of artists amassed throughout the label's running. The record is a fitting collaborative project, with every track on the album produced by two longstanding and well-respected artists from the label's roster and especially commissioned for the release. On the development of the label's sound, Token founder Kr!z comments, "Inigo delivered quite the statement with the first release Identify Yourself (2007). I think identity was and still is key in the development of the label and the artists." Inigo Kennedy's involvement in Token has been profoundly influential and spans its very existence; with three collaborative tracks on the record, it's easy to hear his trademark cinematic sound throughout. One such offering, "Amalgam", is co-produced by Kr!z himself, which is a first step for the label head into releasing his own music after years of taking the back seat. Token's identity has been clarified through its curation over the years as each new artist has joined the label family. Ø [Phase] has been a staple since 2007, providing cerebral sustenance for the most discerning of listeners. Rødhåd's trademark composure was a similarly early addition, and although his Spomeniks EP was a step aside from his own ongoing Dystopian project, he has remained an important member of the Token collective. Ctrls was a Token affiliate from early in his career, and has to date provided nine solo EPs. His class of jarring, inorganic techno adds an atypical feel to the label's output, while Antigone's 2015 double EP Cantor Dust paved the way for another strong artist/label relationship. There are some artists who, although better known for long releasing careers with other respected outlets, have become important in bolstering the label's character in particular. Oscar Mulero's reputation as an institution of electronic music precedes him, and Tadeo has been releasing his Detroit-leaning and avant-garde sounds since 2004. Sigha's involvement with Token came after a varied discography, his Metabolism album marking an integral progression in the label's direction, providing a firm expression of complex musicality and contemplative form. Features Rødhåd, Sigha, Ø [Phase], Antigone, Inigo Kennedy, Kr!z, Tadeo, Ctrls, and Oscar Mulero.