Token Records properly celebrates the Belgian label’s 100th release milestone with a ruthless four-track EP, Say It Loud, from Luke Slater under his Planetary Assault Systems moniker.
“Bang Wap” sets the tone with a simple yet effective warehouse techno arrangement, focused around the heavy onslaught of drums he ensues combined with a modulating continual zap that dominates the spotlight throughout the track. Building up pressure into a huge nosedive towards the end, Luke starts the record off with a peak-time instant classic.
“Bolt” quickly steers the EP into outer space with modular-style bleeps and bloops and abrupt percussion hits mimicking a turbulent cosmic voyage. While slowly bringing in storming drums and other trippy fx elements to progressively build and release the energy at his will, Slater conjures up a slow burn that hypnotic techno fans will be sure to find on repeat.
Perhaps a future anthem, the percussion-filled title track “Say It Loud” features the vocals resampled into different mesmerizing effects throughout, along with a hefty drum machine workout that will challenge any techno legs. Only a laser-thin synth drone comes in a couple times to further build the energy from the intense percussion lines of toms, claves, snare rolls, and more that go wild for 6+ minutes of maximal techno energy.
“Shine” rounds off the visionary EP with a hypnotic melody, creating a now familiar other-worldly environment that Planetary Assault Systems has become known for. Twisting and turning through stranger and stranger galaxies, Slater cuts no corners per usual in the production and engineering aspect, finishing off the record as flawlessly as he started, bringing the sounds of galactic wars to planet earth in wizardly fashion, creatively and mechanically.
-Kai Loo
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