Sähkö Recordings, founded by Tommi Grönlund in 1993, has long stood as Finland's most influential electronic label, gaining international acclaim through its ultra-minimalist releases from Mika Vainio (Ø), Pan Sonic, and Jimi Tenor. Now, with toinen kaupunki (Finnish for "second city"), the imprint continues its legacy of challenging electronic orthodoxy through careful curation of contemporary voices. Bruno Pronsato opens the collection with "above the laundrette (manières bizarres mix)," an expansion of material from his 2024 album rare normal. The Berlin-based producer's approach has long defied conventional categorization, existing somewhere between microhouse precision and ambient drift. His piece here demonstrates his mastery of spatial dynamics and textural development, creating intimate soundscapes that feel both urban and ethereal.
Brussels-based Roméo Poirier contributes "thalassocratie (extended version)," reworking material from his acclaimed 2020 album hotel nota on Sferic. Poirier's practice exists in the liminal space between Jon Hassell's fourth world visions and Jan Jelinek's loop-finding jazz experiments. The piece demonstrates his skill at creating what he calls "electronic simulacra" - immersive environments that shimmer with the quality of remembered dreams.
Welsh producer Memotone (Will Yates) completes the trinity with "the way in(side)," recorded in Newport, South Wales. His contribution showcases the delicate interplay between field recording and electronic processing that has made him a vital voice in contemporary ambient music. The piece evolves with organic patience, suggesting both interior psychological spaces and vast external landscapes. Mastered and cut by Rashad Becker, the EP benefits from pristine sonic treatment that allows each artist's distinctive approach to breathe while maintaining cohesive flow. The front sleeve features a mutation of Ailsa Ogden's artwork "syncopated shadows," with compilation and graphic design by Grönlund himself. toinen kaupunki represents both a continuation of Sähkö's historic commitment to minimalist innovation and an acknowledgment of how contemporary artists have expanded the possibilities of environmental electronic music. This is essential listening for those interested in the ongoing evolution of post-minimalist practice.
