Reviewed: Various Artists - Love Letters to Helsinki [A001]
- Tony Allen
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
‘Love Letters To Helsinki’ isn’t just a compilation - it’s a statement. A sonic snapshot of Helsinki’s underground is told through eight distinctive tracks by producers who span the full spectrum of electronic expression. From pioneers like Roberto Rodriguez and Sharkki to new wave names and left-of-centre sonic explorers, this release marks the debut of Finnish label A001 and sets the tone with intention.
This album feels like a curated trip through Helsinki’s clubbing soul. Each track stands apart stylistically, yet when heard in order, a sense of story and drama builds with each entry. The label’s description calls it a flipbook - it’s spot on. Each artist brings their page, style, and feel, resulting in a multi-faceted showcase of the city’s electronic heartbeat.
It all opens with Roberto Rodriguez’s ‘See,’ a deep house roller with swinging grooves, lush melodics, and soulful vocals that feel built for that golden late-night dancefloor moment. There’s a warmth in its layers and a clear sense of club functionality - something to get lost in without losing the rhythm.
Sharkki’s ‘God Save The Queens’ leans further into the underground - progressive and downtempo; this one’s built on emotional pads, loose percussive rolls and a hypnotic flow. It’s subtle, slightly off-kilter, and genuinely affecting - a track for the heads - meditative and bold.
Then comes DJ WUF with ‘Nightstar,’ keeping things deep but bringing in jazzy tones and lo-fi textures. The melodies sweep gently over chunky drums, capturing that hazy, 4am energy - minimal but not sparse. It’s got that classic deep house intimacy, like a warm conversation on the dancefloor.
DJ JVS steps in with ‘Zähler,’ a mood-driven, progressive piece about movement and motion. Rippling arps and modulating textures push the track forward in waves, creating a sense of exploration and energy without ever reaching for clichés. It feels more like sound design than songwriting - experimental but full of groove.
Things get heavier with Jonathan Meriläinen’s ‘Doppler Shift’ - a no-nonsense techno stormer made for peak-time sets. It’s thumping, tribal, and relentlessly focused. There’s no filler here - just rolling drums, dark synth lines and enough tension to keep a crowd locked in - one for the basements and the brave.
Fleur Amser follows up with ‘OVER,’ a minimal-leaning techno cut loaded with chunky percussion and eerie textures. A sinister undertone runs throughout - the kind of track that creeps into the subconscious during those deeper, more intense hours of the night. Groovy but shadowy.
Track seven flips the script with Miro-Benji & Stuster’s ‘Private Fears in Public Places.’ This one brings out the breakbeats - gritty, raw, and tinged with retro-futurist synth work. It resembles 90s video games, movie soundtracks, and rainy neon-lit streets. Think Streets of Rage meets leftfield electro. It’s a vibe.
Raul E’s ‘Piirrustus - Alt Mix is closing the compilation, a warped, downtempo electronica piece soaked in acid and atmosphere. It’s weird and trippy - in the best way. Each sound feels hand-picked to send the mind somewhere new. This isn’t a closing track in the traditional sense - it’s more like the credits rolling on a bizarre, beautiful film.
Its commitment to range makes ‘Love Letters To Helsinki’ so effective. You’re never too long stuck in one tempo, genre, or mood. It’s curated, but it’s not overly polished. There’s space for experimentation, grit, and pure dancefloor moments - often all within the same track.
As a debut release for A001, it’s a bold one. The label’s mission to bring Nordic electronic sounds to the world is clear - and they’re doing it by spotlighting artists who aren’t afraid to push things forward. There’s a real range here and a deep sense of unity.
You can feel the city in this album - the cold nights, the warehouse warmth, the shared moments under low lighting. ‘Love Letters To Helsinki’ feels like a love letter not just to a place but to the act of making and sharing music that doesn’t follow trends, doesn’t beg for attention, but still commands it.
It’s music for the curious. For dancers and dreamers. For those willing to press play, let the story unfold, page by page, in full.
But it also reflects what’s brewing under the surface in Helsinki. There’s a clear sense of independence here - a refusal to follow the Berlin template or mimic London’s club scene. The artists are carving their lane, tapping into local inspiration while sounding globally relevant. You hear the frost in the synths, the patience in the pacing, the soul in the most minor drum hits.
It’s no surprise that A001 has chosen to emerge at this moment. There’s been a quiet groundswell of Finnish talent over the last few years - from experimental ambient to dubby techno to unpolished rave energy. This compilation pulls threads from all of that and weaves something cohesive.
A001 might be a new label, but they’re already showing a level of curation. Most imprints take years to figure it out. They’ve launched with intent, identity, and a roster that feels interconnected without sounding the same. That’s a tricky balance.
A001