Ectotherm is a Danish techno label run by Apeiron Crew member Mama Snake (Sara Svanholm) and former member Courtesy (Najaaraq Vestbirk), which launched early this year. Apeiron Crew (whose other half is made up of Emma Blake & Simone Øster) has become known for its ‘all-killer, no-filler’ approach to their eclectic DJ sets, focusing in on the hard, dark, and high-energy. Having listened to stella mixes from Courtesy on outputs like FACT and Crack, and an Echtoterm NTS special, one can get a sense of what's being cooked up in the Danish capital.

Echtotherm launched back in June with Schacke’s Patterns Of Susceptibility – an EP made up of crisp, intense and emotive 4x4 dance-floor fillers. The label aims to promote local Danish talent, and the first two EPs certainly capture something present in Apeiron Crew’s ethos. This week welcomes Rune Bagge to their roster. Rune Bagge has been booked across Europe over the last few years, playing at one of Berlin’s most liberal and hedonistic parties ‘Herrensauna’ this past summer, and has been a regular at Copenhagen’s beloved sweat show, ‘Culture Box’.

The EP is more of what one’s come to expect from the Danish scene: hard-hitting, no-nonsense, dance-floor orientated techno. ‘Secret Solutions’ is exactly that, with heavy dubbed-out bass, rattling snares and deranged synth loops. ‘Repulsion’ is a steady seedy roller, kept immersive through a nice array of sounds textures. The chaotic and dread comes through in ‘I Am The Solution’, whilst ‘Coup D’Etat’ is the most experimental track made up of drum ’n’ bass samples with shades of IDM influence. The final track is certainly quirky, but its sombre chords retain its sincerity.

Get to know the sound of the Apeiron Crew from their NTS showcase here. Learn more about the woman behind the tracks and get an insight into Copenhagen’s growing techno scene by reading these two articles, 'Life after Dunkel' & 'Four to the Floor'.

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Words by Fred