SUGGESTIONS OF PLACES TO GO OUT
With his unmissable Hypnus Records label, Michel Iseneld AKA Ntogn’s home country is undoubtedly a land of choice for hypnotic techno. Below, we’ll list a high number of labels and artists who make our circle vibrate with fervour. And yet, the practice of the stage and dedicated events are proportionally quite rare. The heart of the festivities takes place, unsurprisingly, in the capital Stockholm. We’re thinking primarily of the club Under Bron (and its open-air project “Trädgården” during summer), which regularly puts on quality hypnotic sets. Please also pay attention to Koordinat, a fairly recent and very promising venue (think of the 10 years of the Hypnus label celebrated in this space). Outside of the capital, Malmö also has something to say, thanks to the Inkonst club and its eclectic program.
SOME LOCAL HYPNOTIC TECHNO ARTISTS AND LABELS
We’ve rightly mentioned Hypnus, but let’s also highlight the ultra-quality labels Navigare Audio run by Anders and Fredrik Navigare, Nordanvind founded by Fjäder, the unmissable Northern Electronics by Varg and Anthony Linell (including his epic aliases: Abdulla Rashim, Lundin Oil and Ulwhednar), which has seen several renowned artists pass through its doors.
There is also Aniara Recordings, more housey in style and home to numerous releases by Dorisburg, Arkajo and their common project, Genius of Time. In this non-exhaustive list, let’s add Kontra-Musik by Ulf Eriksson, the label which released the memorable “Syra” by TM404, among many other incredible vinyl releases, and also Eternell which is the official ambient label of the artist of the same name, Kvalia Records, hosted by our dear Linny Hex, as well as Phorma, worth mentioning.
Special mention should be made of “Hypnus’ children”. Let’s start with Aedi Records, the first “democratic” record label, managed collectively by hundreds of electronic music producers. Then we have Aether Mechanics, both an alias from Michel and a project developing a Sci-fi-tinged musical universe, Tome, an imprint where Michel expresses his art more freely, and Kabalion Records, a sublabel open to talented artists outside the Hypnus family. Finally, let’s not forget The Memoir, the must-have podcast channel, the holy grail of our producers.
In terms of essential artists, we should of course start with Master Sebastian Mullaert, whose online lessons are highly recommended. With his mate Markus Henriksson, he formed the mythic psytrance duo Son Kite in 1996, then Minilogue in 2000 (contraction of “minimal” and “dialogue”) among other projects. Together, they are “sons” of the Labyrinth Festival in Japan, like Donato Dozzy. Mullaert is also well-known in our hypnotic techno scene as Wa Wu We and in his collaboration with Dorisburg as Jorum. Henriksson, on his side, was already creating some hypnotic techno tracks in the mid-2000s, such as “Speglar”, under his moniker Nobody Home.
Then, we can also mention the incredible duo SHXCXCHCXSH, as well as geniuses Evigt Mörker, Acronym, Korridor and Birds ov Paradise, who played important roles in the modernisation of hypnotic techno.
Let’s highlight other talented artists such as Toffes Värld, martinou, Purl, Eyvind Blix, Jana Sleep, Ida Matsdotter, skymn, or in a more experimental and IDM register, Civilistjävel and Vida Vojic.
Finally, if you would like to go further back in the past, to meet some Swedish electronic music pioneers: rediscover the works of Robert Leiner AKA The Source Experience, among various aliases, or Karl-Axel Bissler, to perfect your knowledge!
WRITING BY: CLARENCE RISE | JANUARY 2024
