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Continuing the theme of various threads of techno, we wanted to highlight some of the smaller labels we feature in the collection: Midgar, Sure Thing, On Board Music, and Oslated / Huinali Recordings. They stand out for their minimal, deep, and hypnotic sound that we love to become absorbed by and lost in.

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Berlin-based Midgar Records has been home to a range of subtle and minimal strands of techno, with forays into broken-beat, poly-rhythmic and acid-tinged varieties. Home to hypnotic techno wizards like Wata Igarashi, Forest Drive West, and Ruhig, there is certainly cross-pollination with the Dutch styles of techno we previously mentioned, and a number of artists like Tammo Hesselink and Konduku were featured previously. The stunning and psych-influenced album art made by label head Severja (Jacopo Severitano) contributes to the whole experience.

Sure Thing is a Brooklyn-based label founded by Aaron J, featuring a handful of overlapping artists to Midgar and Nous’klaer, with an expansive, hypnotic, and “simmering” sound (as one bandcamp reviewer posted on VA2), which captures the experience of being enveloped by one of the VA releases so well. Don’t miss Seattle’s own 8circuit (fka Archivist) release, Psion, which also features two remixes from Claudio PRC. The label has a beautiful visual presence courtesy of artist Sofia Hjortberg.

Laura BCR’s On Board Music, takes a more hazy ambient tack to the hypnotic and minimal styles of techno, with albums that are simultaneously atmospheric and driving... music to get lost in on the dance floor or on the living room floor, headphones on and eyes closed. Here, too, you’ll find some familiar names like Polygonia and Na Nich, and as with Sure Thing, the label has a handful of Various Artists releases which feature up-and-coming and stalwarts alike, and a similarly stunning visual identity on the album artwork.

Oslated and its sublabel Huinali (“wet firewood” in Korean) hail from Jeju Island in South Korea, with a sonic palette solidly in the realm of ambient- and dub-infused techno and evoke the sounds of the natural world. While most of the label’s output has been digital, there have been a handful of releases on vinyl, which we’re fortunate to have a few of these limited-run releases to share with you. The records are something for all manner of moods and settings but shine late at night for the inward journey and daily decompression. 

In the expansive world of techno, few labels carve out a niche as distinctively as the Netherlands' own Delsin and Nous'klaer Audio, with distinctive and diverging sonic pathways.

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Delsin Records, a stalwart in the Dutch scene since 1996, has been an undeniable force in shaping modern techno. Known for its deep, soulful Detroit-inspired undertones, Delsin has continually pushed the boundaries, hosting luminaries including Conforce, Claro Intellecto, and VRIL… artists who embody the label’s commitment to lush, expansive soundscapes that are as introspective as they are invigorating. More recently, releases from VC-118A (a standout record from last year), Ukrainian producers Na Nich and Yan Cook, and Claudio PRC have both broadened and deepened the label’s palette. A recent run of reissues of Sterac/Parallel 9 dubbed-out electro techno classics are not to be missed, a blast from the past. 

While relatively newer on the scene, Nous'klaer Audio has carved out a niche releasing melodic and atmospheric shades of techno since 2013 and quickly become a beacon for enthusiasts of a more narrative-driven techno. The label's standout releases often blur the lines between techno, ambient, and experimental, crafting auditory experiences that resonate deeply. Their approach is a testament to the label’s philosophy of music as a storytelling medium, with artists like Martinou, Konduku, and Tammo Hesselink delivering ethereal, textured tracks that captivate and enchant.

we would be remiss without mentioning vand, a dutch artist / producer / dj, chief at isotoop, and friend of the shop. vand's inaugural release on isotoop as voal (alongside shoal) just arrived from the distributor for your enjoyment.

Together, Delsin and Nous'klaer Audio showcase the spectrum of Dutch techno, from the deep, pulsating rhythms of the former to the sweeping, cinematic journeys of the latter. We’re thrilled to have imported a broad selection of releases from both labels, courtesy of Clone, and invite you to check out these vibrant strands of techno.

absorb records was born from a relationship between two friends and a deep connection over music. Our story echoes that of the label / collective / (and sadly now defunct) shop known as smallville records, from hamburg, germany. Founded in 2005 by Julius Steinhoff, Stella Plazonja, and Peter Kersten / Lawrence, and later joined by Just von Ahlefeld who comprised the other half of smallpeople with Julius.

Check out this interview with Lawrence for a snapshot of a moment in time from the label. We found their concept for smallville to resonate deeply with us about what we hope for absorb to represent and encompass.

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The releases on smallville over the years have been varied yet evocative, inspired, dreamy and always a touch playful deep house.

Start with Move D & Benjamin Brunn's Honey or Let's Call It a Day, and fast forward to Joe Davies' most recent contribution to the catalogue, Shields in Full Sunlight, and you'll find they're still in full force, pushing the genre-boundaries but always cultivating the mood.

Despite a vast geospatial and temporal difference, there is remarkable similarity in sonic and artistic visions and stories depicted by smallville records and mulemusiq. The Tokyo-based label was started in 2004 by Toshiya Kawasaki and if you're reading here, you're likely familiar with their unique and varied offerings. While the label may have started as a outlet to feature releases from the Sapporo-based Kuniyuki Takahashi, the label lineup expanded to include many others, from Lawrence to Koze, Sprinkles to Schwarz. There has been substantial cross-pollination of artists across these two labels over the years, and both labels have featured extensively the visual art of Stefan Marx, emphasizing the ambiance and utterly human sounding electronic music. Check out this rare interview with mulemusiq's founder on RA.

Don't miss the recent releases from Georgia's Saphileaum or the debut LP from UK-based Wallace.