First release of this early Vainio material, recorded 1992-93.
Sähkö's early catalogue numbers are reserved for the early works of Mika Vainio. This work's energy, processes and ideas easily compete with any of today's minimal techno/house releases. Only a few artists are able to apply the inner grammar of their musical language as Mika Vainio does. His ultra precise and clean sound design became synonymous for the Sound of Sähkö. Where some tracks reveal musical roots of early electronic music of 1960s, others compare closely to late 1980s Chicago minimal acid music - yet another timeless masterpiece by Vainio.

Mika Vainio's solo career as Ø continues after a long break. Kantamoinen is the first new Ø album in nine years. It is also the most melodic and romantic music Vainio has ever recorded.
Ø is Mika Vainios's longest lasting pseudonym. Vainio is best known as the other half of minimalist electronic group Pan Sonic. The first Ø album was released back in 1994 on Sähkö Recordings, before Pan Sonic's recording career began. As with Pan Sonic, extremely minimalistic expression is the most distinctive feature in Ø's music. On Ø albums Vainio has often created more atmospheric and abstract pieces than with Pan Sonic.
Kantamoinen is a step into a new direction, from abstract to concrete. It is more romantic than his earlier albums and also more personal. Vainio doesn't want to think of Kantamoinen as a concept album, but some of the tracks are inspired by Vainio's childhood memories. The summery photo on the album cover is of Vainios grandmother's house in Artjärvi, Southern Finland. "Especially the last track Kotiin (To Home) has to do with that place", says Vainio.
Vainio, born in Turku, South-west Finland in 1963, now lives in Berlin. Technically Kantamoinen is typical Vainio. The music is almost all done using analogue equipment. Because the settings on his instruments can not be saved, the music heard on this album is unique, unlike most of today's electronic music.
Vainio will start work on the next Pan Sonic album with Ilpo Väisänen in summer 2005. It is due for release in the end of the year.

Released in January 1998 / Re-released 2005.
Produced by Mika Vainio.
A 13 track album from Mika Vainio's 'medical' project Philus. Mika Vainio is better known as Ø and the other half of Panasonic.
"I used to work at a medicine factory working in a process of making contraceptive capsules. Every day I had to put on the plastic gear, go through the air lock and get disinfected before entering the bright white production hall. That hall had extremely cold and inhuman atmosphere. On Tetra I wanted to create the same kind of ultra-neutral environment. I tried to make the record sound like the world of insects or microbes, totally empty of feelings and thoughts, but still having a premonition about the presence of something invisible that could be behind all this."
Ultra clean + high frequency content only, the cutting edge of minimalism.

Released in June 1997 / Re-released 2005.
Produced by Mika Vainio.
Repress in grey card envelope. This album reissued Mika Vainio's first two singles for Sähkö (aka "Electricity") under the name Ø from 1993. Vainio is the key figurehead in the Finnish techno scene, having first recorded in 1991. He formed the group Panasonic in 1993, who have gone on to some sort of international superstardom via their association with Blast First/Mute. Tulkinta compiles the tracks off of Sähkö 001 & Sähkö 002 onto CD + 6 unreleased tracks (now on the Eetteri EP). Utilizing static, white noise, organic pulsations and pure dream-crackle, Vainio produces instrumental drone electronics of the highest caliber. Totally fascinating, totally listenable, an essential avant-sound document.
Kvantti EP (SÄHKÖ-02)+ Eetteri EP (SÄHKÖ-1.5) + Röntgen EP (SÄHKÖ-01) + 1 more track: Hyönteis.

First released in 1993 this classic four track EP reveals the minimalistic Chicago acid track aesthetic as an important influence on the famous Sähkö sound. With it's hypnotic bleeping soundscapes these tracks are an early take for the sound research that Mika Vainio is known for by now. Combined with the ever ruling TR 808 drum machine and with some subtle sparkling acid lines the timing for this first repressing in ages couldn't be better. Respect is due - thank you Sähkö crew!