Kontra-Musik reach ten years with X
The Swedish label’s anniversary compilation collects together classic tracks from the vaults.
In some ways it seems surprising that Kontra-Musik has been going for ten years. Ulf Eriksson’s label has operated on a steadily increasing release cycle since starting out with the likes of Agaric and Mikael Stavöstrand back in 2006, but it’s really in the last three or four years that the rest of the world has caught on to just how much quality electronic music is rubbed into the fabric of the Malmö-based label. As the notoriety of Swedish techno has equally risen in recent times, so artists such as Frak, Andreas Tilliander (and his TM404 and Mokira guises) and Rivet have helped shape Kontra out as one of the leading bastions of distinctive Scandinavian electronics. Not that Eriksson has shied away from international signings such as The Durian Brothers, Mass_Prod and Jus Ed amongst many others, but the sounds emanating from his home country have seemingly blossomed in line with the aesthetic of his label.
In celebration of a decade of operations, the label has collated together a selection of key tracks to be revisited on vinyl once more. Given the amount of different material to choose from, the press release describes the selection process as “daunting”, but 11 tracks have made the cut with the intention of demonstrating the eclectic nature of the label. There is plenty of edgy machine mischief represented, from Frak’s “666” to TM404’s “202_202_303_303_606”, while smoother house tones are on hand from Gunnar Jonsson and Jason Fine amongst many others. You can hear a preview clip of the compilation in the player below ahead of the full release of the triple-pack vinyl at the end of March.
Kontra-Musik will release X by Various Artists on March 29.
Tracklisting:
A1: The Durian Brothers – Weggeputscht
A2: TM404 – 202/202/303/303/606
B1: Mokira – Time Track (Silent Servant remix)
B2: Fishermen – Black Haze
C1: Luke Hess – Believe and Receive (Shedsdeepanddubbydub remix)
C2: Frak – 666
D1: Mass Prod – Focaccina (Jus-Ed soul stir mix)
D2: Jason Fine – Workinʹ it out
E1: Jonsson & Alter – Brevet Hem (instrumental)
E2: Jason Fine – Half (Anton Zap remix)
F1: Gunnar Jonsson – Massagerutin 1
Kontra-Musik on Juno