Since 1998, Minus has been the home base and canvas for Richie Hawtin and\ a small family of like-minded artists, producers and DJs hailing from the\ America’s and Europe. Hawtin’s Plastikman and Concept projects\ established the label at the start while inspiring a new generation of producers\ to join his side, creating one of the most close-knit collectives in electronic\ music today.
\The musical and live experience of the Minus sound is a varied and unique\ mix of minimal techno, heralding influences from the past with a strong\ sonic focus on the future, always integrating technology. A specific design\ aesthetic is present through the broad catalog of vinyl, CD, DVD and digital\ releases, accented with special packaging, limited editions and special\ promo products.
\With a growing catalog and roster, Minus is home to both underground club\ hits and artistic vanguards within electronic music. Special events, tours\ and label showcases take the “minimize to MAXIMIZE” sound around\ the world with artists performing at clubs and festivals nearly every weekend.\ Minus remains active online through it’s website, bringing fans in\ closer with podcasts of the ‘Connected’ video journals and a\ growing interaction with the community online and on the road, a dedication\ that was established early with Plus 8.
\For the next chapter of Minus, the company’s attention is on Berlin,\ with a new headquarters and affiliation to the city's vibrant culture\ and arts community. Special events in Berlin and tours around the world\ will continue to promote new artists and exciting new releases along\ with a fully redesigned m-nus.com website.
\ ", i18nDict['music_plus8' ] = "The brainchild of two fanatical Canadians, Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva, Plus 8 was a label born over fifteen years ago. Resolutely independent and fiercely determined, Plus 8 provided a welcoming stable to forward thinking artists from around the globe, establishing a name for itself as a progressive label that refused to pander to whim or fashion.
\Always embracing the future, Plus 8 grew with the maturity of its music, keeping with their 12" single roots but also releasing full-length artist albums. The roster is international as is the influence on the collective sound, vision and experience- from records to events. Many of techno's leaders had their debut on Plus 8 - Kenny Larkin, Daniel Bell, Richie Hawtin, Speedy J, Ken Ishii, Born Under a Rhyming Planet (Jamie Hodge), Theorem and others. The compilation series 'From Our Minds To Yours' and 'Blueprints For Modern Technology' helped establish the label to wider audiences in addition to full-length albums from FUSE, the Kooky Scientist, Legion of Green Men and Plastikman.
\Plus 8 was instrumental in building the underground scene in Detroit, Windsor and the Midwest during the 1990's, from the Jak series, Trip series and legendary events such as 'Sickness & Recovery' and 'Spastik'. Many of today's artists on Minus and Plus 8 were inspired by these events or the overall sound of the Plus 8.
\To mark the tenth anniversary of the label in 2000, Richie and John set out to tour the globe on the 'Plus 8 Classics' tour, playing over forty shows in twenty countries. An online diary of each date was posted to the Plus8.com website, a reflection of the energy put into the labels connection with its fans and audience. This also echoed the link made with fans through the Plastikprodukts membership club that brought the scene closer to the artists and label over the years.
\Since the mark of 'Phase II' (1998-) Plus 8 continues to release new techno under the same standards set forth at the beginning. Releases from Electric Deluxe (Jochem Paap), FUSE, Taksi, False, Dreamlife, Adam Beyer, Alex Under, Alexi Delano & Xpansul, Baby Ford & Eon, Link, Lemon8, Paco Osuna and reissue collections of Berlin's Cabinet Records have added to the sound over the past few years. Stunning new releases by emerging and established artists are rounding up 2007's release schedule as the label works towards its twentieth anniversary.
\From Our Minds To Yours.
" i18nDict['music_it' ] = "Started in 2006 by essentially Run Stop Restore, the mini label absorbs and contorts the musical amalgamation of Magda, Marc Houle and Troy Pierce. Their pocket universe mixes sound clashes of minimal techno, house, synth pop, electro and a dash of disco for the future. Guest artists include Konrad Black with more friends in the mix on upcoming releases.
" i18nDict['music_concept' ] = "Concept 1, composed by Richie Hawtin, marks a yearlong correlation between musical development and the progression of time. The original series of 12 monthly twelve-inch singles comprised of 24 tracks, was strictly limited to 2000 copies per release. As with the music, the stripped down product design evolved into a final identity. The final release (12:96) was packaged in a limited edition custom box (limited to 1000) to hold all twelve singles, revealing the Concept logo once all of the spines were next to each other, in order. The music was a timely emission of that moment- each single was usually composed just weeks prior to its release.
" i18nDict['music_nd' ] = "Inspired by the mechanical cadence of Cologne's subway system, Christopher Bleckmann and Hannes Wenner (a.k.a. NIEDERFLUR) probe the depths of the underground transit system with MiniDisc recorders in hand. The duo name each of their tracks after stations on the subway line and sample everything from the pulsing rhythms of the trains to the disembodied recordings announcing the passengers' whereabouts. With their new source materials, Niederflur (German for low-floor tram) turn the esoteric sounds of the subway into some of the most innovative music in minimal techno today.
" i18nDict['music_fw' ] = "The fusion of electronic masters Richie Hawtin and Pete Namlook as FROM WITHIN has set its own course of time and tone. Three chapters of musical departure and introspection have made these albums some of the most sought after ambient recordings of the last decade.
\Elements of classical, jazz, atmospheric and world rhythms are all present, brought toghether by analog and digital synthesis. Hawtin and Namlook are currently planning the fourth and final installment.
" i18nDict['music_2M' ] = "Founded in 2007 as a sub-label of Minus, 2M features just one artist. Marco Carola.
With the vinyl format limited to 2000 pressings per release (hence '2M') and also featuring exclusive digital bonus tracks, his label allows Marco full reign to totally express himself without any limits.
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