Northern Electronics

Northern Electronics began in Stockholm in 2013, set up by Abdulla Rashim as a label for friends, with dance music in mind. The first release went another way: Varg had been asked for a demo EP, turned up six months late, and Misantropen came out as an album Rashim feared was too ambient. Varg ended up running the label alongside him; Rashim also records under his own name, Anthony Linell.

Techno is the way in. Past it, the records drift into industrial grind, noise and long ambient fog, cold enough to earn the name.

It grew like a family: friends only, close to home, no demos, no big-name remixes. Around the two came Acronym, Korridor, Isorinne, Evigt Mörker, Rune Bagge, E-Saggila and SHXCXCHCXSH, while Rashim and Varg kept playing together as Ulwhednar. The Scandinavian Swords compilations, started in 2015, gather the circle in one place.

Start with Scandinavian Swords, then follow the names north.