Currently, the members of Minimal Criminal live in different countries. Valerio Zhyin is living in Israel and is available for gigs in Europe, Africa and Asia. Bruno Echoes still lives in Brasil and is availabe for gigs there and in the rest of South America.
In late 2007, Zhyin started working on the material for the Minimal Criminal debut album,"Minimus Maleficarum". It took some time before a concept for the album was created. The concept would be inspired by the cult/horror/drug exploitation films from the 50s/60s/70s. A retro psychedelic trip. Every track would include a sample taken from some obscure film. Also, many vintage synth sounds and effects were used to further compliment the little stories within each track. Eventually, Bruno joined in the production and the album was finally completed in 2010. This CD will be released by Cosmic Conspiracy records (New Zealand) through Saikosounds on November 26.
Minimal Criminal is primarily influenced by the minimal psytrance/progressive psy sound from the late 90s/early 00s. However, they are developing their own signature sound, borrowing elements from minimal techno/house, progressive trance, electro , psytechno/tech-trance, etc as well as other types of music . Some tracks have a dark atmosphere while other tracks display a lighter and/or comical side, though always psychedelic in nature .The BPM range is from 125 to 140.
The Minimal Criminal story goes back to the year 2003 in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, when Zhyin and Echoes decided to create a project inspired by their favorite artists at the time such as Sensient, Krumelur, Cujorius One, etc. Their first release was in 2005 with the track, "Reefer and Barbeque" on the "Intelligent Manipulation" compilation CD from Zenon records(Australia), which was a collaboration with Swedish sonic weirdo act, Krumelur.
Since then,they've had tracks released by labels such as Cosmic Conspiracy records, Halu Beats (Hungary), Pure Perception records(U.S.A), Biosine (Australia), Vagalume (Brazil),Planet Ben (Germany),etc., both CD and digital releases.
By 2006, Zhyin and Echoes had played in numerous parties and festivals throughout Brazil alongside acts such as Sensient, Bigwigs, Krumelur, Parasense, Son Kite, Dimitri Nakov, Penta, D-Nox, X-Dream and many others., etc.
In 2007 , Valerio Zhyin left Brasil and spent time living in Israel, the U.S.A, and Malta (Europe). Bruno remained in Brazil and spread the Minimal Criminal name further over there by playing at countless parties throughout the country. Today they are among the most popular progressive/psy projects of Brazil.
Since Zhyin and Bruno operate Minimal Criminal in 2 different countries, their live sets are quite different. Bruno mixes the tracks live on his laptop while using some hardware effects. Zhyin plays a programmed set with live electronic drumming on a MIDI drum controller while wearing an alien costume. Occasionally, Lady Omega, the singer from Zhyin's side project Kaiaphas, provides vocal fx during the live set when possible.
