Elysian Fields – Minus 8

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Music to Blow Smoke Rings Across The Floor
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This is one of those gentle tracks that repeats a subtle riff overdubbed with echoing voices and held together by cymbals and congas. Sounds all so simple but this one’s riff really infiltrated me.

Minus 8 is in fact a Swiss producer called Robert Jan Meyer whose jazz-fusion sound might be linked to bands like Jazzanova or De Phazz though there’s a Latin feel to his stuff as well. As a musician he is a bass player influenced by funk. Quite a mix! The name Minus 8 refers to his dislike of sped-up dance music of the early 90’s (plus-eight adjustment of turntables) which I guess means downtempo is more his style. Possibly his catchiest hook/pop song is “Forbidden Love” which is a classy disco/dance track and I would expect some of you to have heard stuff on compilations like Café Del Mar or Hotel Costes. All very European, so no surprise that most of his output is through a high profile German label, “Compost.”

Meyer’s passion for movies has also led him into composition for soundtracks including for Apple’s Powerbook and NASA’s film about training astronauts in vast tanks of water to simulate weightlessness.

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About the Curator: Richard Parsons

I grew up listening to music from the late 60’s onwards. Pirate pop radio; swapping LP’s with friends; exploring genres; daydreaming over the latest woofer and tweeter.

In reality I spent thirty years imparting imperfect knowledge of English literature and drama to young minds in school. Regrets? No. I loved teaching; loved the interaction with the pupils, and made lifelong friends as a result. And what better way to keep up to date with music? I always played stuff in my lessons, and as a result, I’d be bombarded with suggestions from my flock! “Sir! Have you heard…?”

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Richard Parsons

Richard Parsons

I grew up listening to music from the late 60’s onwards. Pirate pop radio; swapping LP’s with friends; exploring genres; daydreaming over the latest woofer and tweeter. In reality I spent thirty years imparting imperfect knowledge of English literature and drama to young minds in school. Regrets? No. I loved teaching; loved the interaction with the pupils, and made lifelong friends as a result. And what better way to keep up to date with music? I always played stuff in my lessons, and as a result, I’d be bombarded with suggestions from my flock! “Sir! Have you heard…?”