This time I’m not highlighting an artist, but a whole label, en:peg digital. It’s an offshoot of n5MD, which was originally set up as a MiniDisc label. (Sony recently ceased production of pre-recorded MiniDiscs, so n5MD had to stop being a MiniDisc label. They still release music on conventional CDs & vinyl, and they’re worth checking out, too.)

en:peg digital says of themselves that they are a “way for artists to release music, without the monetary limitations of pressing, distribution, and shipping.” Because releasing is cheaper, the releases are cheaper. It’s a nice way to introduce yourself to new music and know that you’re supporting the artists. So far each en:peg release is $2.00. For this you get a full album (or at least a good-sized EP) of moody, dark electronic music, along with PDFs of artwork if you like that sort of thing. The music is great for dumping on your favorite MP3 player and drowning in on your daily commutes.

I mention “moody, dark” as a descriptor, but that’s merely a general, binding mood or direction I see in the music. The individual releases themselves differ wildly from each other. From the corrosive Spark to the soothing Proem, from the head-nodding Fell to the poppy Bend, Sinister — there’s something for everyone. My personal favorites, the real surprise gems, are Polar’s Light Years, Phaeon’s Concept Pillow, and Fell’s A Victim. I also like the ‘plunderphonic’-ish 5 Short Stories On Lines by Headphone Science, which reminds me a little bit of The Avalanche’s Since I Left You, and Good Morning by ML, who continue to merge a sense of humor and electronic music in convincing ways. You’ll probably want to stay away from the first release by AEM, which stands for “Another Electronic Musician,” and whose music sounds just like that, mostly because the download is just one 70-minute long MP3, despite separate tracks being listed on the website. This might be good if you’re in the mood for a long, glitchy electronic music journey, but I wasn’t, and rarely am.

So check out en:peg digital. Try the samples, buy a release or two, and don’t forget to back up the files!