Kim Rapatti, aka Mono Junk, is a key figure in Finnish techno, known for his deep, hardware-driven sound. A firm believer in analogue synthesis, he has been shaping raw and hypnotic club tracks since the early ’90s, drawing inspiration from Detroit pioneers like Derrick May and Juan Atkins.
“Love Me More” by Mono Junk debuted on the ultra-limited Korento Compilation 01, released by Dum Records in 2001. Among its eleven tracks – ten of which were previously unreleased – “Love Me More” stands out as a compelling exploration of electro vibes, a shining example of the creativity that flourished in the Finnish electronic music landscape at the turn of the millennium.
Cold Blow presents Bonus Beats: Rare & Unreleased Finnish Electro 1990–2002, a landmark compilation celebrating Finland’s underground electro scene around the turn of the millennium. Featuring 12 rare tracks – including three previously unreleased – this collection highlights a fiercely DIY-driven movement that flourished far from Europe’s major electronic hubs, showcasing a distinctly Nordic approach to the genre. With contributions from notable names such as Jori Hulkkonen, Mr. Velcro Fastener, Mono Junk, and the late Mika Vainio, this release highlights the experimental and DIY ethos that defined Finland’s electronic music scene during this period.
The techno pioneer of Finland, Kim Rapatti, makes his solo debut for Cold Blow with an EP of his trademark dark, soulful and raw sound. IÄTI is what techno can be when breathing humanity and soul into every inch of it. The EP has lineages to Mono Junk’s 2019 album Vanished, moving between deep swirling stompers, emotional compositions and raw, uninhibited electro.
Beyond Space And Time is the new record label from Japanese music festival, Rainbow Disco Club (RDC). RDC has been welcoming music loving people to Japan for over a decade. Throughout the festival’s history, RDC have been fortunate to constantly encounter performers and DJs who’ve collaborated with them in establishing a beautiful dance floor year in, year out. These relationships have lead RDC to start their own label, and now gives them the opportunity to reveal one of the best-kept secrets: What is in a DJ’s record bag? This time around, festival regular DJ Nobu kindly opens up his collection and shares the music he loves with us all. On visual duty we welcome Senekt – his representational yet contemporary drawing illustrates the emotion we feel from DJ Nobu.
Kim Rapatti a.k.a Mono Junk presents the second volume of Finnish Electro All-Star on his DUM Records imprint – active since 1992. The new release is the latest chapter of Mono Junk collaborating with friends. The A-Side features collaborations with top Finnish electro duo Morphology. “Electro Por Favor” is a pulsating driving electro track with a killer bassline and vocals by Rapatti. Raw, apocalyptic, solitary remix by Mono Junk follows the original. The B-Side features collaborations between Mono Junk and a very special guest: Goner a.k.a. Martin Maischen. The two included tracks are deep electroid techno excursions made last year in Berlin.
Third Roots United EP called ‘Kisko Kisko’ comes from one of the finest electro producers from Finland, Mesak (Tatu Metsatahti), who is also known from his legendary projects like Mr Velcro Fastener and Harmonia skweee label. This 4-tracker features another Finnish underground hero Mono Junk (vocals on B2 track) and includes a real ghetto-remix by grand master DJ Overdose straight outta The Hague. All of these tracks were produced in 2018 especially for Roots United in a true hardware style.
Raw minimal techno specialist Mono Junk is back with a selection of new material on his own DUM Records. Having pioneered key techno sounds as far back as 1990, more than 20 years later the influential Finnish artist is still on top of his game. Up first is Halo, nine minutes of edgy techno with a nervy lead synth snaking around in paranoid fashion. Rolling drums set a direct groove in motion below and the whole thing will be brilliantly hypnotic on the dance floor. Halo 2 is a hallucinogenic bit of ambient with celestial drones and icy synth prickles making for a tense interlude, then Musta Peili is all fucked up and scuzzy, study and disrupted. Sounding like a slowed-down techno track heard though a freezing snow blizzard, it is masterfully textured. Farewell closes out the EP with an intergalactic bit of glassy melodic techno that will have you up on your toes.
Another electro veteran back in the game. Finish producer Mesak (also known as the other half of the legendary group Mr Velcro Fastener) has been known for his high quality, advanced spheric electro. Bessemerbirne is a massive electro-industrial 4-tracker EP with a killer remix by fellow countryman Mono Junk.
DUM Records are dipping into the label boss’s production archives for the next one: it is a reissue that features tracks from a number of classic Mono Junk releases. Two came on Trope Records, one in 1995 and one in 1993, and the last pair of cuts come from 1996 when they were released on Plug Research. Arguably some of the influential Finnish producer’s finest work, all of the tracks here emphasize how long he is operating on the top of his game already.
Mono Junk’s DUM Records has been dictating trends in the world of minimalistic techno since the 1990s, and its 34th release is as special as any. This one comes from label boss Kimmo Rapatti aka Mono Junk vs Mesak, who is better known as fellow Finn, Tatu Metsätähti, aka one half of Mr Velcto Fastener. Together the pair serve up three mixes of their jam and an additional track
Mono Junk delivers four pieces of pure Finnish melancholia for Rat Life’s 7th release. This guy is a true European techno originator and like no one he reflects the darkness of the long, cold and lonely winters of suomi in his music. While listening to these tracks you will find yourself wondering: are these voices coming from the speakers or are you listening to your own morbid thoughts? Perfect soundtrack for your winter depression. Can’t understand what you say!
Cool new material from from Kimmo Rapatti. It pitches the 303 against colourful, synth fuelled-backgrounds and rattling drum machines programmed in a manner that don’t sound tried or retrospective.
Given their obsession with the analogue-rich, stargazing sound of early ’90s intelligent techno, it seems fitting that the latest Forbidden Planet release sees the return of Mono Junk. Predictably, the veteran producer is on fine form, delivering cuts bristling with yearning, sci-fi tinged melodies, restless arpeggios, far-sighted electronics and raw, stripped-back drum machine rhythms. While much of the EP is bold, melodious and intoxicating (see “Prince of the Night”, for starters), Mono Junk also indulges his rarely seen dub techno influences on “Channel B (Remix)”, before reaching for the stars with the Legowelt-esque synth beauty of “Maalisku”.
The sixth release on Jurg Haller’s excellent Forbidden Planet sees the Berlin-based newcomer Annanan at the helm. Lead track “124” booms and bristles in all the right places, with an intoxicating dub techno pulse at its core which resonates brightly with sonic intensity as the A side run out groove draws ever closer. On the B side, “ACIDz x2” fluctuates superbly between grizzled acid and saturated deepness, whilst the appropriately named “Satin” reins in the madness for a supple, widescreen journey into techno loaded with atmosphere.
Given that he released his first EP way back in 1992, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Mono Junk’s latest 12″ – his first since 2011 – sounds like a blend of early ’90s intelligent techno, Kraftwerkian rhythms and Clone-ish icy electro. While “Shotokai” is a pulsating shot of woozy, off-kilter futurism, the EP’s hardest hitting moments are those that shuffle to a different beat. The glacial melodies and skittish 808 rhythms of “With You” are particularly potent, while “Bleep Number 9” sounds like a stripped-back, underground take on Brown Album-era Orbital. As for “Kime”, it comes on like a long lost Kraftwerk production circa Computer World.
The Hipodrome Of Music 