Boiler Room & ICA present: Sähkö The Movie

Mika Vainio’s death in April 2017 sent shock waves rippling through the electronic music community. The late Finnish musician left an indelible mark on noise, thanks to his roles in the 1990s group Pan Sonic and record label Sähkö Recordings. Over the years, Vainio collaborated with Björk, Suicide’s Alan Vega, drone icon Stephen O’Malley and more.

Now, just months following his passing, Boiler Room has unearthed a mythic film about the Sähkö label. Artfully shot on 16mm by Jimi Tenor, Sähkö The Movie—a title fans have given the film in the absence of an official one—is a suitably abstract portrayal of the label in its prime. Finnish artists featured include Sähkö co-founder Tommi Grönlund, Mono Junk, Hertsi, IFÖ and, of course, Mika Vainio himself.

The film tracks the Finnish unit at work in the studio, making tracks on their trademark custom-built analogue equipment, hand-pressing limited edition vinyl releases and their eardrum rupturing-yet-delicate live performances.

Outside of a few select festival screenings and those who own a rare VHS edition released by Blast First Petite, hardly anyone has seen the 44-minute film. This has not stopped it from attaining legendary status. Sähkö The Movie is an essential viewing for anyone with a passing interest in techno, industrial and experimental music underpinned by a restless DIY spirit. [Text by Amar Ediriwira]

Sähkö The Movie is a joint presentation by Boiler Room and the ICA

Sähkö The Movie, dir. Jimi Tenor, Finland 1995, 44 mins, certificate 18