Rominimal
A Romanian take on minimal house, with long, rolling grooves and small, strange sounds.
History
Rominimal is the Romanian form of minimal house s1. It grew in Bucharest in the mid-2000s around a group of DJs and producers: Raresh, Rhadoo and Petre Inspirescu s1. Together they formed the collective and label [a:rpia:r] s1. The music is made for long DJ sets and often lasts eight minutes or more s2. It uses a soft, steady beat, a rolling bassline and small, odd sounds that appear and disappear s1. The style became known outside Romania through clubs, festivals and after-parties s1. Rhadoo's 'Slagare' (2006) and Petre Inspirescu's 'Delir' records are often named as important examples s1. By the 2010s rominimal had a large international following, and Romanian DJs played at major festivals s2. It is still a common sound in European after-hours clubs s1. The style is often played at open-air parties and festivals in Romania, such as Sunwaves. Many records are released in small amounts and are hard to find s1.
Sound
- Long tracks built for extended DJ sets
- A soft, steady four-to-the-floor beat
- A rolling, low bassline
- Small, strange sounds and samples
- Very smooth, patient changes
Key figures
- Raresh — Romanian DJ and co-founder of [a:rpia:r]
- Rhadoo — Romanian DJ and producer
- Petre Inspirescu — Romanian producer and co-founder of [a:rpia:r]
- Cristi Cons — Romanian producer in the rominimal scene
Labels
- [a:rpia:r] — Bucharest , 2007
- Cadenza — Geneva , 2003
- Nervmusic — Bucharest , 2009
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Minimal House , Minimal Techno
Sources
- Romania, exquisitely elusive — XLR8R
- A quick, dirty history of rominimal — Berly's Braindance