Published by Alessandro Violante on April 2, 2026
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the German capital has also established itself as techno music capital and, as probably all our readers will know, two years ago, Berlin techno and its network of artists, clubs, promo agencies and record shops has been considered cultural heritage, and if you visit neighborhoods such as Kreuzberg, Friedrichschain and Neukölln, you’ll easily understand why.
Although gentrification is mining its alternative capital status, the techno scene (and not only that) and its alternative approach are still alive. Extending this electronic music and alternative philosophy to the whole German country, also considering the role played by Kraftwerk in the development of electronic music, we can also clearly find it in the new release by the techno producer Shaleen, who started its career in Essen, located in the industrial Ruhrpott area of Nord Rheine – Westfalen, playing in Club Frohnatur, in which the artist is resident dj, and then becoming a much appreciated dj in Berlin too, where the artist often plays. Shaleen is also the founder and the curator of SURD, a series of events linking music, art and queer/feminist movement, active in the Ruhrpott and beyond.
Six years after having released the Consolidation 12” with SEELEN, a Leipzig-based record label chatacterized by a punk attitude, Shaleen comes back with the new release Treatise of a Narcissist, released on its own new label Spellbound, on vinyl and digital, on 18th March, including three new songs and four remixes by artists needing small introduction: Fiedel, historic Ostgut and Berghain resident since its opening; JakoJako, Berghain resident dj; Mareena, Tresor resident dj; Rosati, an acclaimed Dutch artist. Listening to Treatise of a Narcissist is like listening to an essay of Berlin techno, one of the many (and one of the most influential) facets of that underground alternative city.
The concept beyond Treatise Of A Narcissist recalls the myth of Echo and Narcissus. Alongside the release, the artist evokes the complicated and difficult relationship by a nymph and her Narcissus, unluckily being a very common problem especially nowadays. Song titles such as the title track, Nymphomaniac and Fused By Desire, as well as the ethereal and atmospheric sounds counterposed to the hard-hitting 4/4 rhythmic sounds evoke the myth and the relationship between Echo and the Narcissus.
Remixes are very important too both because they’re a fundamental trademark of techno music and because they immerse the listener into Berlin underground music atmosphere.
While waiting to follow Shaleen and Spellbound next steps, experience Treatise of a Narcissist!
Label: Spellbound
Rating: 7,5