IF?, established in Melbourne (Australia) in 1995 and based in Tokyo, Japan, after relocating there in 2001, was a live gig and rave party organizer in Melbourne in the 1990s and one of Melbourne's first independent local electronic music labels.

15 years later it's still hard at it and the label now has over 125 releases included in its discography.

Started by friends Andrez Bergen, Brian Huber and Mateusz Sikora in January 1995 (and more recently joined by Sebastian Bayne), IF? released its first compilation within just a few months, featuring a line-up of purely Melbourne-based, and mostly new, experimental electronic and techno producers - including Voiteck and Zen Paradox.

Mixmag editor Dom Phillips nominated the Zeitgeist compilations at #4 in his choice of the Top 10 Melbourne-made records leading up to 1996. Zeitgeist (1995) and Zeitgeist 2 (1996) were repackaged and distributed internationally through Belgian label Nova Zembla, a subsidiary of Kk Records.

IF? subsequently released a dozen CDs, tapes and vinyl EPs prior to the shift to Japan -- all of which showcased local Melbourne producers, such as Little Nobody, Zen Paradox, Voiteck, Artificial, Honeysmack, Blimp, Son Of Zev, Soulenoid, Isnod, Guyver 3, TR-Storm, Q-Kontrol, Josh Abrahams, FSOM, David Thrussell, Mute Freak, Schlock Tactile, Beam Up, Brewster B, 8-Bit, Dee Dee, Digital Primate, and the LN Elektronische Ensemble.

IF? was also a founding member of M.U.K. (Melbourne Underground Konsortium) and the Sunblock collective of Australian underground electronic music labels.

Over the past 16 years the label has released debuts, tracks and remixes by a who's who of other essential Australian producers like Ben Mill, Sebastian Bayne, Kultrun, DJ Hi-Shock, Craig McWhinney, Black Lung, Koda, Enclave, Alkan, Funk Gadget, DJ Venom, Kid Calmdown, Rysh Paprota, Pnau, Pocket, 5000 Fingers Of Dr. T, Bitch Shift, Bill Hunter, Pat Stormont, and Cut Phobic.

Then there's the international roster that's been involved with IF?

Starting in the 1990s with German producers Thomas Heckmann, Jammin' Unit, Brixton and Biochip C, IF? has since worked with James Ruskin, Aux 88, Ade Fenton, Si Begg, Tobias Schmidt, Dave Tarrida, Wyndell Long, Dasha Rush, Luke's Anger, Donk Boys, Patrick Pulsinger, Dave Angel, Justin Berkovi, Ben Pest, K. Alexi Shelby, Paul Birken, Steve Stoll, BCR Boys, Bill Youngman, Voco Derman, Tal, Justin Robertson, Jason Leach (Subhead), Steve Cobby (Fila Brazillia), and Bas Mooy.

Check out the more left-of-centre IF? stuff by Si Begg, Luke's Anger, Tobias Schmidt, Patrick Pulsinger, Little Nobody, Donk Boys, Paul Birken and Bill Youngman here: ifrecordsleftivism