Väth's first album after leaving the label he started forsakes the symphonic bent of his first two full-lengths, and fortunately just concentrates on the production of some great dance music. Though it begins with an odd track that sounds like third-world synth-pop,
Fusion hits a series of diverse highs over the next nine tracks: the slinky breakbeat number "Discophon," the hard, pumping techno minimalism of "Augenblick" and "Scorpio's Movement," and the sonic experimentation of "Trippy Moonshine." It's a welcome back-to-basics album, and even while tossing a few bones to the home-listening crowd, amply displays Väth's skill at constructing simplistic -- not simple -- club tracks and DJ tools. ~ John Bush