SANDRIEN — Compass

Sandrien – Compass The Dutch producer Sandrien returns with Compass, a double 12-inch release on her own inspi imprint (catalogue INSPI001). Issued in October 2026, the record arrives as a techno-focused statement that eschews genre constraints in favour of feeling-driven composition. The album’s visual package includes a double-sided poster on 250-gram paper, a photo postcard taken by Sandrien, and a hand-numbered sticker, all wrapped in Shrinwrap. Compass arrives as the latest entry from inspi, a label that currently has no other documented releases. The record therefore stands alone as a self-contained artistic statement, reflecting the personal circumstances that shaped its creation: a period of renewed freedom spent in Spain, and a desire to chart a new creative direction after more than a decade of silence. Side A opens with “This Storm Will Pass”, a track that sets a contemplative mood before moving into “I Don’t Belong Here”, which deepens the sense of displacement hinted at by its title. The side closes with “Stuck In A Loop”, a piece that reinforces the cyclical tension introduced earlier, offering DJs a seamless transition between introspective moments and a more driving rhythm. Side B delivers the lead single “Life”, the foundation of the album’s narrative, followed by “The Calling”, a track that amplifies the forward-looking energy introduced on the A-side. Together they provide a clear pivot for a set, moving from reflective to more assertive terrain. Side C begins with the eponymous “Compass”, a central piece that encapsulates the record’s theme of navigation and self-discovery, and is paired with “Ghosts In The Attic”, a darker vignette that adds atmospheric depth and works well as a bridge into the final side. Side D concludes with “Of Birds, Winds & Water”, a track that evokes natural elements and offers a spacious groove suitable for late-night mixing, and finishes with “It’s Great To See You Again Little One”, a warm closing that brings the journey full circle, leaving room for the next set to pick up its emotional thread. Within Sandrien’s own catalogue, Compass marks a decisive return after a ten-year hiatus, showcasing a production approach that favours intuition over preset genre expectations. The record’s placement on the newly formed inspi label underscores a commitment to artistic autonomy, aligning with contemporary underground techno’s emphasis on personal expression and experimental structures. For DJs, the double LP provides a versatile toolkit: the A-side offers mood-setting textures for warm-up phases, the B-side supplies a solid mid-set anchor with “Life”, while the C- and D-sides deliver deeper, more atmospheric moments that can be deployed for peak-time intensity or after-hours contemplation. Collectors will appreciate the tactile extras—the poster, postcard, and hand-numbered sticker—as extensions of the album’s intimate visual narrative. The release is pressed as a 12-inch vinyl double LP, presented in a Shrinwrap sleeve that houses the poster and accompanying artwork by Studio Pieter Jan Boterhoek. The format supports the full, uncompressed experience of Sandrien’s techno soundscape. Sandrien – Compass, inspi, catalogue INSPI001, 12-inch vinyl double LP, eight tracks. Tracklist: A1. Sandrien – This Storm Will Pass A2. Sandrien – I Don't Belong Here A3. Sandrien – Stuck In A Loop B1. Sandrien – Life B2. Sandrien – The Calling C1. Sandrien – Compass C2. Sandrien – Ghosts In The Attic D1. Sandrien – Of Birds, Winds & Water D2. Sandrien – It's Great To See You Again Little One