Minimums is the secret identity of…well only a handful of people know, and they’re not talking. Some say Minimums is a half-human-half-synthesiser hybrid who creates their music in a hollowed-out volcano, whereas others believe their base is an orbiting space station or a Nautilus-like submarine that only surfaces to broadcast new music or allow them to teleport to a gig. But, whoever this mysterious figure is they craft the kind of sweeping electronic vistas that you would normally associate with Vangelis or Tangerine Dream.
Via an encoded sub-light transmission Minimums informed Joyzine that we could host the galactic premiere for the video to current single ‘Memory’. The transmission also let us know that the song is inspired by themes of fantasy and sexual exploration, “I wanted to capture a sense of a cherished – yet dark and intense – memory told from the perspective of the subject. There’s an element of mystery, and room for interpretation and subtlety too“.
Minimums maybe no stranger to opulent visuals when playing live shows, but for ‘Memory’ they called on New York-based actress Carl Nowak to star, and with Gabriella Meade as director of photography, the trio created a close-up study which allows Nowak’s expressive features to convey a full range of emotions in line with the song’s theme. By remaining tightly cropped on the actor’s face the video feels intimate rather than voyeuristic, and allows empathy to guide the viewer’s experience.
“It was a pretty quick and easy shoot and both Carl and Gabriella brought an amazing mix of positivity, intuition and fun to the set” says Minimums. “We knew we only had Carl for a set window so worked to a detailed shot list which I’d sent to them both in advance to check. I had so much great footage that editing felt like a dream!“.
The music is replete with lush strings and synthesised washes which achieve the feeling of a sonic caress, and the pulsing sensuality of the beat quickens the heart rate, promising more sensual delights. ‘Memory’ features recurring guest vocalist Pippa Sarratt, and her exceptional voice manages to be plaintive, enigmatic as well as strong to the core.
Minimums says that, when writing, they often work to this credo, “would this sound like it could be played in a space station nightclub in The Expanse“. The simple answer is yes! Minimums would be on hard rotation everywhere from Ten Forward, The Zocalo, Mos Eisley’s Cantina, to Joe’s Bar, and Quark’s*.
‘Memory’ is taken from Minimums’ forthcoming EP, but you can get this track and its remixes on Bandcamp which includes this Michael Donoghue version which has an erotic-subaquatic feel which gives credence to the idea that it was mixed on Minimums’ submarine.
Minimums socials: Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | X
* Yes I looked up clubs in sci-fi
Review by Paul F Cook
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