Following a 10 weeks creative silence and the sad news about Magda being the victim of a theft, there are amazing Minus news as well.

MINUS COLLECTIVE UNEARTH THE CUBE: Operating under the premise of 10 weeks of silence, their intrepid team has been hard at work deciphering the secrets of the Cube after discovering this mysterious object in a clandestine excavation site. Initial tests reveal a dense, carbon based structure utilizing liquid crystal technology and while its origins remain unclear it seems to have been created by intelligence far greater than their own.



As guardian of the Cube, Richie Hawtin has released the following statement:

“What is apparent is that the Cube is a highly advanced communications device that responds positively to the presence of humans and interacts accordingly. By acting as a central hub it seems to allow us to direct our thoughts, collect and share ideas, transcend language and interconnect musically in ways previously not possible. We’re still in the early stages of research but it seems our destinies have somehow become interlinked.

The global Contakt events are the next phase of our research. The Cube’s technology will strengthen the connection between the performers but it will to go further, bringing together the people who share and support our music, giving them the chance to interact personally with the Cube and in doing so, gain access to the Cube Network. That’s why we’re holding these events, to create a unique, interactive environment that offers a new, closer form of communication. After all that’s what makes us human… and if technology can increase that, we should embrace it.“



A sequence of individually crafted events at key locations around the world have therefore been organised to celebrate the past ten years of Minus and allow like-minded individuals to make contakt with the Cube. Long time collaborators Richie Hawtin (sound) and Ali Demirel (visual lighting) will be responsible for the event’s overall atmosphere, exploring new possibilities in sound and light interaction by sharing information from Richs new digital setup. Each night a rotating cast of Minus artists including Magda, Troy Pierce, Marc Houle, Gaiser and Heartthrob along with a host of special guests will take the stage, adding their own unique sound to this new, creative mix environment. This will not be a typical one set after another event but a smooth transition between the unique personalities and sounds that have made Minus what it is today.



In conjunction with the CONTAKT events, Minus is introducing a special CONTAKT membership card. The card contains a unique microchip that shares the inert properties of the Cube which will be on display at every location. Everyone who signs up during the first month will automatically be entered into the CONTAKT Early Member Draw. Three lucky winners, randomly identified by the Cube, will each receive a Tonium Pacemaker portable DJ device, loaded with an exclusive Minus digital catalogue pack. Alongside this, other benefits include 10% discount on all online orders at m-nus.com, full access to the m-nus.com community site and guestlist services for select Minus events and Richie Hawtin shows. Membership will also automatically grant access to the CUBE CONTEST allowing individuals to take part in our global experiment aimed at unlocking the true potential of the Cube.



The CUBE CONTEST experiment, devised together with some of the most innovative names in audio technology including Native Instruments, Allen & Heath and Tonium, will take place at the very heart of the Contakt event. The levels of intensity produced by the surrounding audio-visual experience will optimise conditions for human interaction with the Cube, allowing Contakt Members using their Contakt Membership card to approach, identify and make CONTAKT with the Cube. Active participants who assist in the experiment will be rewarded with the chance to win a Native Instruments Traktor Scratch System. After assimilating the collective information received from each event the Cube will randomly pick a winner.



After the last CONTAKT event in December all active members, who have made contakt with the Cube at any of the events, will have the chance to win one of three fantastic prizes in the final CONTAKT sweepstakes. The Grand Prize winner will receive a Native Instruments package including Native Instruments Komplete Software Instruments, NI Traktor Scratch System and NI Kore System. The 2nd prize winner will receive an Allen & Heath Xone:92 mixer and the 3rd prize is a €200.00 m-nus.com online gift certificate.

However, the experience goes deeper still. With the Cube’s energy permeating throughout each location, everyone in attendance will be able to tune in to the Cube’s Open Network, interacting remotely with the Cube through handheld devices (ie. iPhone, iPod Touch, and other WiFienabled phones and media devices). To further their connection to Minus, people will be free to download special CONTAKT items including unreleased tracks & media and also upload demos to a special drop box hosted by the Cube.

CONTACT events:

05/24 DETROIT, USA st. andrew’s hall, 06/20 BARCELONA, SPAIN sonar festival, 07/22 GENT, BELGIUM 10 days off @ vooruit 08/29 MONTREAL, CANADA venue tbc, 10/11 BERLIN, GERMANY columbia halle 10/18 LONDON, UK s.e.one, 10/25 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND the sand 10/31 ROME, ITALY palazzo dei congressi, 12/6 TOKYO, JAPAN club phazon 12/13 BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA venue tbc

CONTACT - A series of events celebrating the past 10 years of Minus

starring RICHIE HAWTIN - featuring MAGDA & TROY PIERCE - introducing THE CUBE live support MARC HOULE, HEARTTHROB, & GAISER - selected dates support by LOCO DICE, JPLS, TRACTILE, AMBIVALENT, BAREM & NIEDERFLUR - visual lighting by ALI DEMIREL excecutive producer COSMOPOP logistics by CLONK directed by MINUS



For more info, check out their fancy website : contakt-events.com

Oh, you know him as well? ok, I`ll . :)
I just came back home after work, was not so cool , but still ok, in the end we had lot of fun! :]]]]
Ok, I have to go to sleep, cos next night goona be quiet crazy and loooooooong... :]

heard it was too crowded so decided not to go , shame and hope we did not miss too much

Traktor and MINUS present CONTAKT (chat)

thanks thai, a bit of a mixed bag there, guesss you did not enjoy it too much. shame they did not play at the afterparty either, waht a cop out!

oh don't me wrong, as critical as i may have sounded i still very much enjoyed myself. It's just that the event far from delivered what was expected of it.
Contakt @ I Love Techno should be another level though. :)

yeah heard good reports about i love techno, do you have more details, line up , ticket prices, flights/accom, etc.. i take it you are going ? have you been before ? is it te first time contakt will be performing there.

found some answers below, looks amazing, hows everyone flying over there (airlines/ryanair / any cheap deals ?) and hotels, will look into it soon,


I LOVE TECHNO 2008
FLANDERS EXPO
GENT
BELGIUM
www.ilovetechno.be

UNDERWORLD live | DAVE CLARKE | JUSTICE | BOYS NOIZE | RICHIE HAWTIN | DIGITALISM | DJ RUSH | BOOKA SHADE live | HOT CHIP live | FELIX KRÖCHER | TOCADISCO | PET DUO live | DR.LEKTROLUV | MAGDA | SEBASTIAN | UMEK | CROOKERS | MARCO CAROLA | ROBERT HOOD | SURKIN | FRANK KVITTA | FEADZ | AUDION live | BRODINSKI | HEARTTHROB live | DUSTY KID live | UFFIE | DJ MURPHY | TROY PIERCE | BIRDY NAM NAM live | BLOODY BEETROOTS | GAISER live | MARCEL DETTMANN | DJ MEHDI | MARC HOULE live | BUSY P | KABALE UND LIEBE | ED REC ALLSTARS | MATTHEW HOAG | LA RIOTS | PIERRE


I Love Techno 2008, edition 13! On Saturday November 15th the beating heart of techno will once again attract 35,000 music lovers from various countries to a night of dance pleasure. Paying attention to techno in all its varieties (hard techno, minimal, Detroit…) and to pioneers such as Robert Hood or Richie Hawtin, but also to upcoming new talent like e.g. Dusty Kid. The festival also focuses on related genres such as electro and rave and pays plenty of attention to new evolutions (fidget house, the return to the rave sound of the nineties, the rise of France as a prominent dance country…). Are you ready for the floor?!

I went last year, its so well organised it's ridiculous, UK promoters can only dream of throwing events of this calibre and for this cost.
I booked my Eurostar and event ticket for this one a little while back so its just a matter of counting down the days now. :)

you are very organised thai , bet prices have gone up since. its very reasonable at 45 euros per ticket for such an amazing line up. the line up page on the website is great and you can make your own timetable too - who are you looking forard to see besides the minus/contakt crew ?

amazing night at se1 and cannot wait for i love techno, tickets, transport/eurostar and hotel all booked!