Max HeyraudCailín lands as our first Mix of the Week of 2026 with a two-hour, stripped-back techno trip for the legendary Paris-based Yoyaku record store and its revered in-store session series.
Yoyaku’s in-store sessions have been graced by some of electronic music’s most coveted selectors: Nina Kraviz, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Jonny Rock, San Proper, Danny Daze, to name but a few. Representing Ireland, Waterford’s Cailín steps up with her classic techno approach: two turntables, the shop’s coveted rotary mixer, and a timeless, no-frills techno collection built for deep listening.
In recent years, Cailín has also launched her GRL alias, a moniker that sees the long-standing Subject resident flex her house instincts, and there’s a subtle sense of these two worlds crossing paths throughout the mix. Deep, cavernous dub techno sits alongside glossy, chord-driven rolling loops and bleeped-out sci-fi warpers. At times, of course, things turn more brutal: no-holds-barred techno slips in, whether from the likes of Cailín’s own productions. Yet for the most part, she plays it cool.
The set feels reminiscent of catching Cailín in opening mode at Subject, warming the room for some of techno’s true pillars. Across the two hours, she stretches out her expansive musical vocabulary, exploring space and tension while maintaining an overarching sense of control. This is deep, proper, trudging techno, patiently constructed and expertly paced.
At a time when trends feel like they’re coming and going faster than ever, often more plastic and copy-cat than the last, this mix lands as a rare two-hour respite from the noise. As ever, Cailín proves herself to be consistent and considered.