Inspired by theories of subtraction, advancement and experimentation, Minus is home to the various projects of Richie Hawtin. Minus will explore new mediums and their relation to music and technology. Instilled within the motion of change and exploration, musical boundaries are minimizing. This subtraction of sound and communication broadens the future of creativity.
maroko, May 06, 2008
Despite the overwhelming attention and praise M_nus Records gets, what it all comes down to is that actually the whole frenzy sorrounding the label is over hyped. Simple as that. Don't take my statement for granted though, as a lot of respect must be due towards certain artists who have recorded albums under the M_nus flag. Some of their releases have had the key role in shaping, molding and pushing forward the minimal aesthetic, chopping it down to its core elements, and then rebuilding it all back up starting all the way down where the essence is. Richie Hawtin & the gang really have a persuasive way to prove how less is indeed more, spicing it up with monumental groove and a larger than life, whilst still geeky, approach to music.
Whether it was reinterpreting, mixing, subtracting/adding or just producing, everything coming from this label was bound to ignite debates: genious work or uninspired sound manipulation? A combo of both, if you ask me. The entire history of M_nus is based on hit 'n' miss releases. Ranging from minimal bliss, highly intelligent and thorough music to enjoy listening to, all the way down to dull, pointless, random and allegedly arts tracks and albums. From hitting it on the nail with highly innovative music to hitting listeners with plastic bags filled with hot urine, these guys have done it all as far as minimal goes.
Unfortunately for, well, everyone, M_nus has had the terrible misfortune of getting tangled in their own web, and not really knowing where and how to go now. The label which pushed the envelope of minimal sound to an outer, yet unexplored galaxy of sonic wizardry, and provided a fair amount of, to this day unmatched and, far reaching musical gems, has due to an obvious lack of ideas, focus and a general sense of direction to pursue, started to rehash its own classics.
In my ears, certain more recent releases coming from these guys completely lack everything that made us love 'em in the first place. There is nothing about their newer work that even remotely hints at the great potential and capacity to churn out great music. Their whole sound evolution seemed to have stopped, and if 6-7 minute segments of repetitive drums and over used percussion effects are your thing, then M_nus might still have a trick or two up the sleeve for you.
On a whole personal level, I lost quite a lot of interest in their work. It's like I have this feeling their time has passed, the era of M_nus being the leader seems more of a great memory now than the actualy truth. Its relevance on the scene is strongle felt even now, anno 2008, but the "M_nus bar none" status is time after time broght to a test by persistant new arrivals such as Dial Records, Meerestief Records and other similar, small, but nonetheless top quality acts. While the label and its respective artists still enjoy a vast world wide fan base, and its releases are as cherished today as they ever were before, the once unquestionable reputation of this undeniably influential label is risking to get tarnished, unless they hop back on the top of their game and reinvent the entire genre. Hell, if they did it once, I have no dobut they can do it again...
A label to watch out for. Always. Checking out their releases is a must, and they should not be hard to find either, so there is NO excuse. M_nus is an integral part of the history of electronic music, and has played a key role in expanding the horizons of the techno spectrum through minimizing and reducing it to scattered microscopic particles of sound, only to reassemble them into some of the most mind bending, complex and thought provoking contemporary electronic music around. Their input on minimal orientated music is maximal, to say the least. Check!
