The first of the bunch is the 'Keimola EP', recorded in 1996 by Pan_sonic's Mika Vainio under the name Kentolevi. Constructed of minimalistic distorted drum patterns in true Mika Vaino fashion, 'Keimola' surprises as an abstract, yet groovy techno EP, more direct and danceable than many of Vainio's other productions. Kentolevi is an anagram of Tekonivel, a pseudonym Vaino had used two years before for his 'Reuma EP' on Abe Duque's Tension label and to which 'Keimola' is a follow-up. Another fitting anagram would be 'Evil Tekno' btw...

After his first outings on Mainframe and Germany's Labworks, Vienna's DJ Elin debuted on Cheap in 1995 with 'Let The Music Play'. While the mash-up of an 80s pop classic would not have come as a surprise from Mr. Auto Repeat, in this case the EP's title remains the only reference to Shannon's '83 electro hit. The EP's three tracks are super-dry Chicago-style jacks instead, with 'Wind Of Change' being the stand-out cut: A 15 minute monster with a corkscrew bassline, more efficient at drilling out your brains than even Klaus Meine's whistling.

Our final pick this time around is Gerhard Potuznik's 'Up North They Are Free' EP, one of Potuznik's finest releases. Dry and jacking 909 jams sit by side with funky wild-pitch acid, and 'Solid Gold' is still one of our favourite Potuznik tracks, employing a jazzy 6 by 4 rhythm that you shouldn't even try to mix.