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Robert Jan Meyer is an Architect and the brother of a well-known Swiss rave promoter. He started to make music at the end of the 80's, first as a bass-player in a Funk-band, but soon his fascination with Midi-equipment led to experiments with a keyboard and sampler. At the beginning of the 90's, Robert launched his Minus 8 project as a slow and peaceful answer to all the Plus 8 (on a turntable) speed madness that was prevalent in club music at the time.
By 1993 he also started DJing, playing mostly Acid-Jazz, Rare Groove, Funk, and Hip-Hop. Since then, Robert has consistently supported Swiss club culture with all his talents. He's also toured as support for big UK names like Goldie, Grooverider, Hype, Krust, Storm, Bad Company and Adam F. And now he's in-demand as a remixer. As all that wasn't enough, he's also found time to put together a great series of compilations - "Science Fiction Jazz"
The first ever Minus 8 release, "The Sweetest Sounds," was the actually the first release on DJ Cam's Paris-based label Inflammable. In 1997, Minus 8's first album "Beyond," followed (also on Inflammable), and received excellent reviews. "Beyond" was followed by a second album, "Beyond Beyond" for UK label Higher Ground (part of Sony UK). The English Trip-Hop and Drum & Bass scenes influenced both of these albums.
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CPT 133-1 - 12"
A2. "White" New Vocal Version feat. U
AA1. "Runaway" Tweak Remix
AA2. "Runaway" Tweak Dub
Quotes / comments on this release:
"Beautiful release, will support big times." Laurent Garnier (F-Com)
"Dub we likey! You can run but you cannot hide from Tweak's deep pulse that scans around the dark corners of the house coming across small snippets of vocalisation. A fine moment from a summertime album turned into wintertime hypnosis." Sampsa Vilhunen / Club WAHOO!, Helsinki, Tallinn.
"Killer remix of Tweak!" Shaddy (Phat Industries)
"Astonishingly deep Tweak remix!" Holger Watzka (Lead With The Bass)
The world has a White album so let there be a White EP also, Minus 8 thought! Simone Serritella also known as Big Bang adds some fender and bass creating the Perfect soundtrack to a 70s airport lounge. Second brandnew version has singer U on vocals and is straight bossa nova whereas the two remixes of Tweak have Billie
(Masters At Work) on the mic and should contribute to sweaty armpits for Metro Area / Dixon / deep and moody house lovers! Shave and shake your legs!
Switzerland´s finest, Robert Jan Meyer aka Minus 8, offers the whole spectrum of drum&bass, nu-jazz, funk, lounge and hiphop. He´s often mentioned in the line of the Straight Ahead label posse or Alex Attias and has been touring with important D’n‘B DJs, namely Goldie, Grooverider, Kemistry&Storm, just to mention a few. He can claim an Ericsson Swiss Dance Music Award in the category `Best Producer` his own and his tracks have been remixed by big names such as John B or Dr. Rockit. His latest and fourth album `Minuit` on Compost which featured the original `White` version has achieved global acclaim.
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CPT 131-1 - 12"
1. "Brave And Bold" Original Version (5:28)
2. "Brave And Bold" Minus 8`s Plus 8 D&B Mix (5:06)
Side B
1. "Brave And Bold" Max Fresh From Hidden Agenda Remix (5:04)
2. "Brave And Bold" Dubversive Soundsystem Remix (5:29)
This might be the most unusual Minus 8 track you´ve heard so far and we´re quite proud presenting that one. Coming up with dancehall master Ras Charmer aka Bobo Curt-Chalmar Crutchley it`s the very first time such Reggae track is released on Compost Records.
Charmer whose album debut "No Mystery” of Togetherness Records produced by Sly & Robbie has been praised by press and critics alike charms the crowd with his innovative mix of Dancehall and Reggae, Hip Hop and R&B. With his "strightly conscious lyrics” and his Sing-Jay-Style he´s adduced as evidence he well deserves being compared to well-known Jamaica-based dancehall artists such as Junior Kelly or an early Sizzla.
Minus 8 lovers will surely approve of Robert Jan Meyer kicking in with straight Drum`n Bass on the second mix of "Brave And Bold”. Dj and producer Mark Goodings better known as Max Fresh showcases a typical Hidden Agenda remix: A hybrid of 2Step and Drum`n Bass influenced clubmusic you´ll find extremely difficult not to move your derriere to. Last but not least chilled dopey Dub from Dubversive Soundsystem, guess one of the best and well-known Swiss sound-system, coming to your ears like water in a desert, a revelation.
Beware for this is brave & bold indeed !
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CPT 109-1 - 12"
1. Theia
2. A Concha Cor De Rosa
3. Theia (James Hardway Remix)
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CPT 105-1 - 3-LP
CPT 105-2 - CD
1. The Sun
2. At The Beach
3. White
4. Badman & Throbin' (Gabor Deutsch Lovely Vocal Remix)
5. Starlight
6. Theia
7. Come Along, Again
8. Snowblind feat. Billie (The Amalgamation Of Soundz Out Of Mind Mix)
9. Runaway feat. Billie
10. Bossanova Feelin'
11. Do It The Way
12. Sometimes feat. Billie (Compost Original Edit)
13. A Concha Cor De Rosa
CD Bonus:
14. Cold Fusion (Doctor Rockit's Sweaty Dutch Vest Mix)
"..a delightful summertime album, filled with breezy vocals and flute riffs, bouncing along light-hearted Brazilian rhythms... Beachwise and easily listenable, Minuit is a fitting sunscreen companion."" (XLR8R, 10/2002)
"Late-nite groove heaven" (Ind On Sunday, 28/07/2002)
"Managing to flirt with the dancefloor without getting caught up in any of those nasty four-to-the-floor shenanigans, this is an impressive set of modern dance music for the discerning listener." (HHC, 08/2002)
"He (Robert Jan Meyer) makes the kind of uplifting saccharine-soul that, if he won Pop Idol, would ensure Prozac was never needed again. Pass the Minus 8 album, Mr Young, another dose is required." (Mix Mag, 09/2002)
Biography
"Minuit" is the name of Minus 8's fourth album, not including his soundtrack for the film "Viktor Vogel – Commercial Man" (2001). And it's his second longplayer for Compost Records.
The last year was very successful for Minus 8, the remixer of "Indigo Blues" by F-Com’s newcomer star Llorca. USA’s finest hardware company Apple chose his track "Snowblind" for their G4-Powerbook TV spot. Director Lars Kraume chose him – after several months of headhunting - to compose the soundtrack for the film "Viktor Vogel – Commercial Man" (feat. Goetz Goerge, Maria Schrader, Alexander Scherr). The film is now available on VHS and DVD. And finally Minus 8 won the Ericsson Swiss Dance Music Award in the category "Best Producer".
Moreover Robert Jan Meyer aka Minus 8 played at highly acclaimed festivals such as the Amsterdam Dance Valley, Montreux Jazz 2000 and the Willisau Jazz Festival. He was on tour in Australia, played at the Justo Club in Moscow, and at plenty different clubs in Germany, Itlay and Portugal. And still he found time to work on his new album.
"Minuit" (in Switzerland released on Jaboo Records, one of the five best labels in Switzerland, as mentioned in the style mag Wallpaper) certainly will please the needs of all downbeat and Minus 8 fans.
"The Sun" feat. singer Jillene is a wonderful ambient-jazz track with Fender Rhodes, flute, hammond and guitar. Flute and vocals performed by Zurich-based Brasilian artist Rodrigo Botter-Majo are the essential part of the bossa nova track "At The Beach", while the tune "Bossanova Feeling" features the vocals of Tanja Birri.
The track "Theia" is more house-influenced, keeping it real with an 80s style Chicago-House piano lick. "Come along, again" is a new version of the track featured on the Compost 100 compilation, which shows the talent of singer Unspeakable D from Bristol, UK.
"A Concha Cor De Rosa" is a 174 bpm Latin Drum & Bass track, heavily influenced by Patife & Marky and John B.
New York based singer Billie ("Nobody’s Business", new MAW) is the star on the wonderful ballad "Sometimes". The Edit-Version was already on the soundtrack of "Victor Vogel".
The CD-Version also features remixes which were so far only available on vinyl such as "Cold Fusion" (Dr Rockit rmx aka Herbert), "Snowblind" (Amalgamation Of Soundz rmx), "Badman & Throbin" (Gabor Deutsch rmx) and "Badman & Throbin" (Intega rmx). Especially the 2-Step remix by Intega was very popular amongst the Garage-crowd in London.
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CPT 078-1 (2-LP)
CPT 078-2 (CD)
1. Elysian Fields
2. Neverland
3. Circles Blurring
4. Breathe
5. Driven
6. Mondo Boppp
7. Sarug & Terah
8. Starstruck
9. Snowblind
10. Beyond Material
11. Cold Fusion
12. Nonhuman
13. Badman & Throbin'
14. Sellafield
On this third album Elysian Fields however, Robert has refined the elements of his music and arranged them in more song-oriented style. The new album is much more homogenous and solid than the two first albums. "Elysian Fields" doesn't lean on trends, but creates its own universal
atmosphere. "Elysian Fields" centres around breakbeats, beautiful atmospheric moments, and live-elements provided by skillfull Jazz-musicians like Chris Wiesendanger, and vocals of Billie and Tanja Birri. It's a sound that has found Minus 8 a new home at Compost and in the record boxes of Jazzanova, Beanfield and Trüby and now yours!
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CPT 085-2 (Maxi-CD)
"Nonhuman" Big Bang Remix
"Snowblind" Tiny Trendies / Cultural Mambo Dub (Instr.)
"Cold Fusion" Doctor Rockit's Sweaty Dutch Vest Mix
"Snowblind" Les Gammas Lifetime Remix
For notes on the single tracks see vinyl (CPT 086-1 & CPT 087-1). Also note that the Tiny Trendies' remix on the Maxi-CD is an instrumental version.
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CPT 086-1 (12")
"Nonhuman" Big Bang Remix
"Snowblind" Tiny Trendies / Cultural Mambo Dub
"Snowblind" The Amalgamtion Of Soundz – Out Of Mind Mix
DJ Simone Serritella aka Big Bang grew up in northern Italy's industrial heartland. A vinyl fanatic, he started his collection with European jazz records. In 1999 Serritella made the move to London, his current hometown. His first single (Dribbling/Colours) was heavily played in the Nu-Jazz Electronic scene.
Recently Serritella formed the Solaria label, a label geared towards the club scene but with a progressive jazz attitude. Big Bang's excellent handling of Minus 8's "Nonhuman" is a chilled out production, which delivers exotic beats and steady grooves. Ever busy, Serritella is currently working on several projects. Despite his busy schedule, he still finds time to creep around dusty records shops in search of undiscovered vinyl gems
The instrumental version of Tiny Trendies' remix:
Tiny Trendies, aka Adam Goldstone from New York, delivers a superb house version of the original. Adam's last single (as Cultural Mambo) "Docking In Outer Space" enjoys support from the likes of Rainer Trüby, Jazzanova and Daniel Krivit (the man behind Body & Soul). Currently, Adam is recording his debut album for Nuphonic Records.
The first track on the B – Side "Badman & Throbin'" is taken from the album "Elysian Fields". In the opinion of many underground DJs, this is the track of the album, which works best on the dancefloor, so it makes sense to have this one on 12".
The Amalgamation Of Soundz, aka Jean-Claude and Mark from London, UK, deliver a deep and dreamy version of "Snowblind" with perfectly broken beats, some nice melodies and a groovin' bassline. Pure quality! The duo is one of the musical trendsetter's at the moment, celebrated by the British Lifestyle-Press. Currently they are very busy Djing at bars and clubs (e.g. Met Bar, The Clinic, Fabric) in London and wherever they get to go to; they are working on new material and they are also in the middle of compiling compilations for BBE and Naked Music.
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CPT 087-1 (12")
"Cold Fusion" Doctor Rockit's Sweaty Dutch Vest Mix
"Snowblind" Les Gammas Lifetime Remix
"Snowblind" Tiny Trendies / Cultural Mambo Remix Vocal
"Snowblind" Zimpala Remix
Another take on "Snowblind" by two guys from Augsburg, Marc Frank and Jochen Helfert, better known as Les Gammas. The release of their debut album a few weeks ago brought them praises from all over the planet. Their version delivers a very up-front, edgy cut of the original, perfect for the progressive dancefloor. Tight production and strong musical feeling make this a very deep remix.
Watch out for their third single release with a brand new track later this year.
Tiny Trendies, aka Adam Goldstone from New York, delivers a superb house version of the original. Using great vocals and some improvised licks, this one is for the dancefloor. Adam's last single (as Cultural Mambo) "Docking In Outer Space" enjoyed support from the likes of Rainer Trüby, Jazzanova and Daniel Krivit (the man behind Body & Soul). Currently, Adam is recording his debut album for Nuphonic Records.
The final mix of "Snowblind" is from BNX and Walters, two French DJs / Producers, who perform under the name of Zimpala. Their mix has all the quality of a late-night off-beat track. Zimpala just put together their first album "Almaviva", released on the Platinum Label. The duo also created a unique live-performance, including special visual experimentation, which can be seen at several locations across Europe.
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CPT 081-1 (12")
"Badman & Throbin'" Gabor Deutsch Dub
"Badman & Throbin'" Original Mix
"Badman & Throbin'" Plus 12 Remix by Intega feat.
MC Looney Tunes
Intega, aka Roskow "Kosma" Kretschmann and Matthias "Mason" Hellwig, is a new project coming from the multi-creative Jazzanova / Sonar Kollektiv environment out of Berlin. Matthias is an in-demand DJ in various well-known venues like WMF, Cookies, Doughnuts etc. and Roskow is a producer as he is one man behind the act "Kosma" on Infracom Records and also member of the Jazzanova producer-team. Their remix is pure funk for the dancefloor. A murder bassline, cool breaks and animating vocals by MC Looney Tunes are the main ingredients. Noodles of the Groove Chronicles already has this track in his playlist.
A fantastic number by one of the upcoming German UK Garage producers, check Sonar Kollektiv Records' diffusion label Aspekte for more releases in the near future.
Gabor Deutsch's remix on side B is a very delightful and pleasant 2-Step version of the original, this number could easily be taken for one of MJ Cole's dreamy tracks. Gabor Deutsch was born in 1977 in Hungary. His speciality is to produce music on computer by using only software which he edited and programmed himself.
In September 2000 Gabor Deutsch released his debut longplayer "Contrast" on Mole Listening Pearls, a great piece of work mixing many electronic music genres of the past years.
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"Snowblind" / " Badman & Throbin'"
1. "Snowblind - radio edit" (3:20)
2. "Badman & Throbin' - radio edit" (3:58)
Rumours say that Apple CEO Steve Jobs himself has decided on the music for the commercial of the new Apple PowerBook, introduced at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco on Jan 9, 2001. He chose "Snowblind" by Compost artist Minus 8 out of about 200 proposed tracks. The video-clip can be viewed as QuickTime file on the Apple web-site (www.apple.com).
"Snowblind" is taken from Minus 8 latest album "Elysian Fields" (Compost 078) and is a fine blend of atmospheric sounds and sophisticated driving beats.
The track "Badman & Throbin" is also taken from the album "Elysian Fields". It is perfectly produced with a nice retro-feeling and definitely is a top-class dance tune.
There is also a video for "Badman & Throbin'" which is directed and produced by Rahel Arnold and Andreas Peter. Check the major music TV channels to catch it.
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"..a delightful summertime album, filled with breezy vocals and flute riffs, bouncing along light-hearted Brazilian rhythms... Beachwise and easily listenable, Minuit is a fitting sunscreen companion."" (XLR8R, 10/2002)
"Late-nite groove heaven" (Ind On Sunday, 28/07/2002)
"Managing to flirt with the dancefloor without getting caught up in any of those nasty four-to-the-floor shenanigans, this is an impressive set of modern dance music for the discerning listener." (HHC, 08/2002)
"He (Robert Jan Meyer) makes the kind of uplifting saccharine-soul that, if he won Pop Idol, would ensure Prozac was never needed again. Pass the Minus 8 album, Mr Young, another dose is required." (Mix Mag, 09/2002)
"One of the most prolific producers in the jazz field..." - "An incredible diverse album,..., skips from downbeat, to Latin infused club music, then to bizarre jungle tempo cuts,..., but each track is still riddled with the Minus 8 jazzy attitude." - "...'Snowblind' a cut which Peterson, Trüby and Kruder will no doubt be hammering for a long time to come.
Straight no Chaser #11, Summer 2000
Essential album in 7 Magazine:
"Swiss DJ Robert Jan Meyer emerges from the hills with a charming, beautiful album..." - "In fact, every track is a winner..." - "Needless to say, it's gonna be at the front of my collection for a long while"
7 Magazine, 9/8/2000
"...Robert Jan Meyer... comes through with his third, and probably best album to date." - "...an album that is full of superb material. Not to be missed!!!"
Discoid, July / August 2000
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Europe "The Sweetest Sounds ep"
CD Album: "Beyond" (1997) (Inflamable (F), Jaboo Records) World wide
CD Single: "Airborn" (1997) (Jaboo Records) Switzerland
12": "Airborn / Zero-G" (1997) Promo
CD, 2-LP: Minus 8 "Beyond Beyond" (Higher Ground / Sony Music UK)
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incl. Minus 8 "The Sweetest Sounds"
Science Fiction Jazz, Vol. 2 (Jaboo Rec., BMG, Intergroove, 1997)
incl. Minus 8 "Vertigo" (1997)
Science Fiction Jazz, Vol. 3 (Jaboo Rec., BMG, Warner, Intergroove, 1998)
incl. Minus 8 "Science Fiction Jazz" (1998)
Science Fiction Jazz, Vol. 4 (Jaboo Rec., Mole, Intergroove, 1999)
incl. Minus 8 "Cruisin" (1998)
Science Fiction Jazz, Vol. 5 Chill Out Edition (Jaboo Rec., Mole, Intergroove, 2000)
Batucada, A Trip Into Latin Music (Jaboo Rec., Mole, Intergroove, 2000)
Play (Jaboo Rec., Crippled Dick Hot Wax, 1997)
incl. Minus 8 "Recently at the Opera" & "A Touch of Evil"
Play, Vol.2 (Jaboo Rec., Warner, 1998)
Hangar 21 Big Beats and Drum & Bass (Hangar 21, 1999)
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12": Leme "Closed Eyes" (Minus 8 Remix)
CD & 12": DJ BNX "Mondo Bopp" (Minus 8 Remix)
CD Single/12": Zabriski Point "Move on Up" (Remix by Minus 8)
CD Single/12": Zabriski Point "Leave it" (2 Remixes by Minus 8)
CD Compilation: Hangar 21 Heintje "Mama" (Reworked By Minus 8)
12": Minus 8 "The Tempest" (Hidden Agenda Remix)
12": Minus 8 "The Tempest" (John B. Remix)
CD & 12": DJ BNX "Habakuk" (Minus 8 Remix)
CD & 12": DJ BNX "Ultrabossa 2" (Minus 8 Remix)
CD & 12": Züri West "Paris" (Minus 8 Remix)
CD & 12": Zimpala "Mondo Bopp" (Minus 8 Remix)
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"The Tempest" (1998) directed by Daniel Cherbuin shown on VIVA 2 and MTV1
"Badman & Throbin'" (3:57)
Writer & producer: Robert Meyer; Vocals: Billie; Publisher: AMV Alster GmbH
© & P 2000, Compost Records
Director & producer of the video: Rahel Arnold & Andreas Peter
Edited by: Adrian Frutiger at Kontra-Punkt
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Music for Trailer: Independent Pictures SBG, UBS Switzerland (1996)
Music for Advertising: UBS Bank (1997) Switzerland
Music for Trailer: Volts & Visions (1999) 3-D Film Festival Switzerland
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Resident at Kanzlei (ZH): "Heaven", Fridays (since 1993)
Resident at Rohstofflager (ZH): "Lost In Drum & Bass"
Resident at ZAR (ZH): Sundays
Defrosted! at Abart Club (ZH), each Thursday
DJ Dates see Tourdates
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