We’re back with our March selection — a new round of staff picks shaped by weeks of listening and research. Once again, we came across a wealth of outstanding releases, with several pure techno EPs leaving a strong impression along the way. As always, many remarkable works didn’t make the final cut. Our approach remains the same: to highlight what we believe truly stands out, while continuing to support emerging labels and new producers. At the same time, some names will inevitably return — a reflection of ongoing affinities and shared visions. Enjoy!

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☉ SHXCXCHCXSH – EEEER [Mental Disorder]

For its twenty-eighth release, Mental Disorder enlists the idiosyncratic Swedish duo SHXCXCHCXSH, whose clinical approach perfectly mirrors the aesthetic of Reeko’s imprint. “EEEER” is a focused study in tension, consisting of four tracks that navigate the abrasive intersections of industrial textures and drone-heavy atmospheres. True to their reputation, SHXCXCHCXSH apply a rigorous experimental lens to the record, stripping back the functional elements of techno to reveal a darker, more visceral core. It is a work that reaffirms their position as architects of the unconventional, successfully reshaping the genre through a focus on sonic deconstruction and sonic world-building.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Priori – 9 [Kynant Records]

Montreal-based artist Priori returns to Kynant Records with “9”, a solo-produced EP that elegantly navigates the intersections of house, techno, and dub-infused textures. The record presents itself as a sophisticated gem, defined by a level of poise and formal clarity that has become a hallmark of his output. The opening track, “Nesting Chamber”, serves as the EP’s focal point and has remained a staple of our daily rotation. Featuring the commanding Jamaican voice of Gavsborg, the track creates a compelling dialogue between Priori’s fluid, crystalline production and a grounded, evocative vocal presence, resulting in a deeply immersive listening experience.
[» listen and support here]

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☉Terence Fixmer – Blade [Planete Rouge Records]

Released on his own Planete Rouge Records, Terence Fixmer’s “Blade” EP is a concise and deliberate exploration of cerebral, hypnotic strain of techno. Moving away from his historically more direct approach, the four-track release navigates the space between club-oriented functionalism and mental depth. The EP is defined by its balance: A SIDE features pulsing minimal grooves designed for the floor; on the flip side, there is an intricate layer of enveloping loops and subtle tension that favors a deep listening experience. The closing track, a dub-leaning composition, serves as the record’s highlight—warm, spacious, and stripped of aggression, it remains perfectly aligned with Fixmer’s evolving sonic signature.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Shed – IT077 – Applications II [Ilian Tape]

“Applications II”, the latest offering from German luminary Shed, stands as a definitive highlight in Ilian Tape’s recent output. The EP serves as a compelling masterclass in the enduring relevance of techno, proving that when the genre is handled with such craftsmanship and respect, it remains one of the most evocative languages in electronic music. Across four tracks of concrete techno, Shed explores a diverse spectrum of textures. The record functions as a bridge between eras, reconnecting with the functional sensibilities of the early 2000s while simultaneously venturing into contemporary dub-inflected rhythms and hypnotic electro motifs. Within this cohesive framework, “Cross” stands out as perhaps the most striking moment, perfectly encapsulating the raw yet sophisticated energy of Shed’s signature sound.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Various Artists – NAZAR001 [Nazar]

Nazar’s debut release offers a compelling survey of the darker, more introspective corners of the Helsinki scene. “NAZAR001” establishes a clear aesthetic identity, navigating through mysterious synthetic auras and skittering sequences that bridge the gap between outsider techno, rainy-day electro, and psychedelic abstractions. On the A-side, General Electrix sets the tone with “Redshifter”, a silken web of 606-powered electro and haunted synth work. It is followed by Asyx’s “kVelorum”, an exquisitely detailed piece of machine funk where noise, squelches, and bleeps are woven into airy pads and a solid rhythmic foundation. The B-side shifts towards a more dramatic intensity with Kaiunta’s “Phantasm”, a mid-tempo creeper that pairs dense live drums with nervy atmospherics. 53X concludes the mission with a crunchy, sample-heavy downtempo excursion, laced with angular noise and a deep psychedelic pulse. “NAZAR001” is a versatile and forward-thinking collection, perfectly aligning itself with the long-standing Finnish tradition of unconventional machine music.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Mayashiba & Behzad – No Borders [Global Frequency Records]

“No Borders” marks a formidable debut for Mayashiba, who teams up with French-Iranian producer Behzad to launch her newly-minted imprint, Global Frequency Records. Positioned as a sonic manifesto, the EP skillfully blends tribal-inflected grooves with hypnotic synth fractals and eerie post-industrial layers. The original mix is a high-tension techno thriller, weaving cavernous bass sequences with fevered darbukkahs and rippling arpeggios, while Mayashiba’s incantatory vocals guide the listener toward a state of trance-like abandon. In contrast, the downtempo version deconstructs this energy, emphasizing a pyretic and suffocating atmosphere where each bar pulses with a fractured, fearsome intensity. Completing the release, Substance (aka DJ Pete) provides a dynamic, abstract-leaning rework that harnesses the original’s horsepower while introducing complex textural interplay and his signature reverb-soaked precision.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ ex_libris – 003

The third installment of Dave Huismans‘ “ex_libris” series finds the artist further navigating the outer edges of deep house and leftfield abstraction. Across three expansive cuts, Huismans balances rhythmic drive with intricate sound design. The A-side delivers a rough-around-the-edges, spirited 4/4 beatdown epic, grounded in a gritty yet soulful momentum. On the flip, B1 and B2 venture into a more delicate form of world-building, where fluttering “wildlife” curiosities and vivid textures create a lush, synthetic atmosphere. It is a compelling exercise in sonic exploration, reaffirming Huismans’ ability to craft immersive environments that remain both tactile and unpredictable.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Foote/Dickow – High Cube [Geographic North]

Released via Geographic North, “High Cube” is the rhythmic brainchild of Brian Foote and Paul Dickow, two low-key pillars of the American experimental scene. For their first collaboration as a duo, they adopted a strategy of intentional constraint: five machines, a one-hour timer, and a total rejection of over-editing. The result is a collection of tracks characterized by a dry, “chunky” aesthetic that sidesteps conventional dance or ambient categories in favor of a moody, complex narrative trajectory. “High Cube” is a compelling exercise in subtraction and intuition, where Foote and Dickow leverage their shared rhythmic history to create a sound that feels both raw and sophisticated, tethered only to the atmospheric ether of their collaborative process.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Pugilist – Found Sound [Ruff Kutz]

Marking the tenth anniversary of his alias, Pugilist presents “Found Sound”, a debut solo album on his Ruff Kutz imprint that functions as an antidote to the disposable nature of modern electronic music. Designed as a cohesive long-form statement rather than a collection of club tools, the record delves into an internal monologue, offering an introspective and genre-defying listening experience. “Found Sound” navigates a lighter, more euphoric spectrum compared to Pugilist’s previous output, yet it retains his signature technical rigour through massive basslines and intricate percussion. The sonic palette is defined by a “washy”, dub-wise sensibility and intoxicating atmospherics that feel both floaty and grounded. Constructed as a collage of sounds and samples collected over the past decade, the album maintains a raw, unpolished edge, avoiding over-sanitized production in favor of a more visceral and personal aesthetic. For those with a keen ear, the sample in the track “Timelines” is drawn from the superb hip-hop piece “Visionary Riches” by Apollo Brown & Skyzoo — a highly effective and well-placed tribute.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Anthony Linell & Evigt Mörker – Ett anständigt liv [Northern Electronics]

“Ett anständigt liv” marks the first collaborative alignment between Anthony Linell and Evigt Mörker. The ep unfolds as a focused study of continuity and sustained sonic pressure. Across four tracks, the duo develops a tensile language driven by persistent loops and a controlled ascent, where every element evolves with surgical precision without ever erupting into obvious peaks. Subtle psychedelic inflections — evoking early trance states — emerge as mere suggestions within a darker, more restrained framework. Neither nostalgic nor decorative, the EP is a reduced and deliberate work, favoring deep immersion over immediate impact. It is a forward-facing record that reinforces the contemporary aesthetic of Northern Electronics through repetition and rigorous structural focus.
[» listen and support here]