I originally wrote this review for 365Mag.com in September 2008

A new Gaiser album on Minus can almost go without the compulsory introduction paragraph. Minus is of course the most well known minimal techno label in human history, run by front man Richie Hawtin. Gaiser is one of their main artists, releasing on the label since 2006. He is praised for his energetic live acts. Blank Fade is considered his debut album although he had a long playing EP last year called Eye Contact.

Gaiser's output has always been thematically strong. His tracks can immediately be identified.…

I originally wrote this review for 365Mag.com in August 2008

Mike Shannon has been releasing records for almost ten years now. He is one of the more diverse artists to release minimalistic music. Being diverse is a quality that's good to have as an artist in the contemporary minimal techno climate. Most producers seem to have run out of ideas to make something purely minimal. And those who think they don't, sound like it. Those who never heard any of Shannon's records might think that he's a breath of fresh air but the truth is that he has been producing…

Richie Hawtin has been my favorite DJ for quite some time now. I could write several pages about the music and great memories I have of his DJ sets. Since mister Hawtin is not only a musical talent but also someone who knows how to market and sell music, he is often accused of leaving his musical integrity of the 90' behind. I pretty much gave up discussing that on the internet because people tent to directly label you as a fanboy without going in to a decent conversation about the music itself.

Something that can't be denied is his…

This is a condensed version of an email conversation I had with a friend and fellow last.fm user tecnomicon.

U.K. authorities have decided to ban a performance of Pete Doherty at a music fesitval. The Guardian wrote:

"The decision came after police asked an intelligence officer to research Doherty's band, Babyshambles, who were booked to headline Moonfest festival in Westbury, Wiltshire, next week. They concluded that the band's tendency to "speed up and then slow down the music" could create a "whirlpool effect" and spark disorder."

If find this very remarkable. Of course there is no doubt that…

I originally wrote this review for 365Mag.com in May 2008

Heartthrob is a nickname given to Jesse Siminski by fellow minus artist Magda. As most members of the Minus roster Jesse is originally from the US. Unlike most big minimal artists he is now living in Paris. His track Baby Kate, which surprisingly is about Kate Moss, was one of 2006's big hits. Signs is the first single from Heartthrob's coming debut album Dear Painter, Paint Me.

Minus is without a doubt the most well known minimal techno label around. This year marks their 10 year…

I just discoverd this cool little widget that uses the last.fm data to determine how open minded your music taste is.

http://omi.musickum.com/graphics/omi/d/7_Dirklectisch.png
http://omi.musickum.com/graphics/mmt/d/7_Dirklectisch.png

Not a bad score..

I went to see Pierre Bastien in Amsterdam (Sun 13 Jan – Philip Jeck, Pierre Bastien) and what an amazing performance it was! The performance was at the Bimhuis which is a small but very modern jazz stage located in a big building with several stages. It wasn't very crowded but that wasn't any problem at all. The ambiance was still very nice an intimate.

Pierre Bastien was doing his trademark performance with a small self made installation that made all kinds of crazy sounds. You might think these sounds wouldn't have any coherence but the opposite was…

When it comes to festivals that require some serious traveling I always have this special rule. If I liked such a festival very much a particular year I always skip the next edition. Why you ask? Because it can never be as fun in your mind as last year. This rule has led me to visit the sonnemondsterne festival for the third time in five years this year which proves to me that it’s a great festival.

SMS is always programmed in such a way that you have to dance your feet off on friday night and then have time…