CONTAINER - A collaboration of Minus & Raster-Noton The collaboration of the labels Minus and Raster-Noton dates back to the year 1999, when Richie Hawtin was invited by Carsten Nicolai to take part in the 'new forms' CD/performance project that was staged at the Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst in Leipzig, Germany. Since then both labels have shown their interest to finally launch a collaborative project. In the last ten years both Minus and Raster-Noton have set high standards of sound and visual presentation. Their strong affinity to minimalist design and a compelling musical output of their catalogue has since been parallel in the labels' philosophy. Especially the 'concept' series of Minus and the '20' to 2000' series of Raster-Noton have been landmarks of minimal electronic music and defined the start into the new century. A collaboration hence seems to be overdue and consistent. CONTAINER is an event series seen as intersection of conceptual ideas of the labels. The two evenings will cut the usual club night performative scheme of solo performers by introducing an experimental platform of performative interaction that promotes the labels' overlapping conceptual structures to form a unique laboratory of sound. The open character of the project might give the chance to further develop it in the future... For both evenings of CONTAINER the creative heads of both labels – Richie Hawtin, Olaf Bender and Carsten Nicolai – along with some of their major artists – Matthew Hawtin, Ali Demirel, Pascal Lesport, JPLS, and nibo – will contribute to the musical and visual concept. 26 Nov 2009 at WMF Klosterstr. 44, 10179 Berlin, Germany Doors 23-04h Ticket price: 15 EUR wmf-club.com raster-noton.net

Dubfire and Richie Hawtin join forces again in Tokyo Dec. 5th ... Who knows when it will happen again - don't miss it !!!

Shot during the Richie Hawtin tour Rotterdam/Frankfurt/Neuss in May and June 2009

To view the full videos please go to www.m-nus.com -> technology -> abelton

PLASTIKMAN Nostalgik.3 Spastik (Dubfire Rework) Panikattack (Second Attack Remix by Guido Schneider) Minus(-3) 12", MP3, WAV There are pioneers, originators and creators who have made significant contributions in many electronic genres but with techno few will demand as much retrospective examination in years to come as Richie Hawtin's Plastikman persona. Plastikman compositions loom heavy on the horizon like dense nimbus clouds - sometimes hanging back with distant menace, more often than not though the rolling thunder breaks directly overhead drenching the listener in acidic downpours or snare driven hail storms. Perhaps no track represents this more than 1993's Spastik - a vibrant surge of energy, so instantly recognisable, so memorable and so expertly crafted and controlled that it defies belief. Over the years there has never been any intention to remix Plastikman and both tracks featured on this release are unsolicited (and unexpected) reworks by two producers who are long term Plastikman aficionados. Minus feels strongly that the world should not be denied the opportunity to hear both of these incredible remixes. Step forward Dubfire (aka Ali Shirazinia from Grammy winning DJ and production duo Deep Dish) who's already hit top form this summer with some tasty releases on Desolat, Funkwelle.net and whose thumping 'Emissions' features on the Minus compilation 'EXPANSION | contraction'. The beauty of this rework is that it doesn't stray far from the original vibe. Dubfire pays the track the full respect it deserves, adding contemporary beats, bass and hat patterns, subliminal efx and tweaks that perfectly compliment the EQ sweeps and machine gun snare rolls of the original. Panikattack (originally released on Plus 8 in 1996 as the B side to Sickness) gets a more radical overhaul with Guido Schneider turning in a typically pragmatic version. By excavating and enhancing the gritty funk that lies buried under the feverish textures of the original, he discovers a totally new dimension. Combining the plastik elements with his own trademark swing and razor sharp percussion programming, Schneider coaxes the track out of the shadows for some serious peak time action as the bassline bounds forward relentlessly occasionally enveloped by stuttering delays, to negotiate its way through the dubbed out breakdown and on to the end. A superlative release. A sure fire hit. A timeless celebration of man and machine in perfect harmony. RELEASE INFORMATION: Artist/Title: PLASTIKMAN | Nostalgik.3 Catalogue No.: minus(-3) Label: MINUS Format: 12”, MP3, WAV Digital Release Date: NOVEMBER 15, 2007 Vinyl Release Date: NOVEMBER 30, 2007 Track Listing: A: Spastik (Dubfire Rework) - Reworked by Dubfiire B: Panikattack (Second Attack Remix) - Remixed by Guido Schneider

Of the continuing themes found throughout the music released on MINUS, one constant exploration is the relationship between Sound and Silence. Within the stripped down but dimensional outcome there exists a polarity that is neither controlled nor accidental, where life imitates art in between the notes. The act of finding inspiration from a sonic molecule or the inaudible space around that element is the nature of EXPANSION | contraction. Dubfire (Ali, ex-Deep Dish) enters the EXPANSION with the tremendous “Emissions”. This is his first track to be released on Minus and is the culmination of his gravitation towards the Minus sound cemented by a friendship over the years with label head Richie Hawtin. Gaiser again hits the mark with “Mute”, which captures the excitement of his storming live shows throughout 2007 and is taken from the sessions that spawned his forthcoming double pack release “Eye Contact” (M54). Currently 'on fire' Marc Houle continues his own musical expansion with “Porch”, following up and going beyond his “Extreme” (Items and Things 02) and the monstrous “Techno Vocals/On It” (M50) double-header. Plastikman's “Risk Assessment” begins the contraction with a simmering builder of a track guaranteed to disconcert even the most sonically prepared of listeners. Jesse Siminski aka Heartthrob is right back on form and contributes the growling funk beast that is “Roundabout”. While JPLS's “Isolate” contracts further and establishes him as one of the darker elements on the Minus roster, his soon-come Minus EP “Fuckshuffle” (M57) bears testament to his highly developed sound. Troy Pierce's gargantuan “Oxytocin” (CD only) takes up the gauntlet thrown down by his own twisted “Gone Astray” (M52) release from the summer, and wraps up the CD somewhere exactly in-between the concept where EXPANSION | contraction first started. Evidently, the listener can discern here that all the artists featured on Expansion | contraction are fully experimenting with the balance, interaction and interplay between these two opposing forces. To complement the music on this release, the accompanying artwork maps out the boundless possibilities of in-between potential. Limited edition double pack vinyl format features a specially embossed sleeve and black/white vinyl, reflecting the duality of the EXPANSION | contraction concept. CD format also features embossed artwork and contains an extra track, Troy Pierce's “Oxytocin.” RELEASE INFORMATION: Artist/Title: V.A. / EXPANSION | contraction Catalogue No.: M58 Track Listing: 2x12 Vinyl xa1: Dubfire - Emissions xb1: Marc Houle - Porch xb2: Gaiser - Mute ca1: Plastikman - Risk Assessment cb1: JPLS - Isolate cb2: Heartthrob - Roundabout CD 1. Plastikman - Risk Assessment 2. Heartthrob - Roundabout 3. Dubfire - Emissions 4. Gaiser - Mute 5. Marc Houle - Porch 6. Troy Pierce - Oxytocin 7. JPLS - Isolate