The Minders are an American band closely associated with The Elephant Six Collective . Started by Martyn Leaper in Denver, Colorado in 1996, the band's original members included Leaper on guitars and vocals, Rebecca Cole , on drums, Jeff Almond on guitar, and Marc Willhite on bass.
42-619: Leaper formed the Minders in Denver along with Robert Schneider and Hilarie Sidney from The Apples in Stereo . Together they recorded Paper Plane EP in Athens, Georgia . Leaper recorded the "Come On & Hear 7" in Denver, Colorado, allegedly one of the fastest selling Elephant 6 releases in history. At this time, Leaper began attempting to form a more permanent band after releasing "Paper Plane" on 7". With
84-562: A non-Pythagorean scale based on logarithms . He has also incorporated prime numbers and the sieve of Eratosthenes in both a composition to be performed by a bell tower, and in the score for a play by mathematician Andrew Granville and playwright Jennifer Granville that debuted at the Institute for Advanced Study on December 12, 2009, and he has written a plan for an electronic composition based on prime numbers lasting millions of years. Since September 2010, Schneider has performed using
126-635: A PhD in mathematics from Emory University in 2018. As of September 2022 , he is an Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Michigan Technological University . After spending the first six years of his life in Cape Town , South Africa, Robert Schneider's family moved to Ruston, Louisiana , where his father had taken a job teaching architecture at Louisiana Tech University . There, Schneider befriended Bill Doss , Will Cullen Hart and Jeff Mangum , and began discovering and playing music with them. After graduating from Ruston High School , where he
168-462: A PhD in mathematics from Emory University , where he studied number theory under Ken Ono . From 2018-2022, Schneider was a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Georgia . As of September 2022 he is an assistant professor of mathematical sciences at Michigan Technological University . Schneider conceived and developed a new non- Pythagorean scale with frequencies corresponding to
210-485: A Time . After the release of Black Foliage , tensions grew between Doss and Hart. According to Doss, Hart wanted to take a hiatus from music, and was suffering from early symptoms of then-undiagnosed multiple sclerosis . The two had a falling out, and the Olivia Tremor Control broke up in 2000. The last album to be released during this period was Singles and Beyond , a compilation album featuring some of
252-539: A band called Cranberry Lifecycle, which was formed in Ruston, Louisiana in the late 1980s by Hart and his high school friend Jeff Mangum . The two moved to Athens, and reworked Cranberry Lifecycle songs as a new band called Synthetic Flying Machine. After Doss joined, Mangum left the band to pursue a solo project that eventually became Neutral Milk Hotel . Doss and Hart then renamed the band The Olivia Tremor Control, and recruited Fernandes, Harris, and Erchick. With this line-up,
294-516: A compilation of singles and b-sides . Bolme left the Minders shortly after the release of the band's second proper album, Golden Street , in 2001. Almond and Willhite regrouped with the band in time to release their third album in 2002, The Future's Always Perfect . In the spring of 2008, Cole left the band. In 2016, The Minders released Into the River on Space Cassette . The Minders have released their albums on spinART, but have also released
336-484: A loose musical collective . Musician Ross Beach , another Elephant 6 collaborator, describes Cranberry Lifecycle as the Elephant 6's "first collaboration of 'serious' songs." After graduating from high school, Hart and Mangum moved to Athens, Georgia to join the city's burgeoning music scene . They formed a band called Synthetic Flying Machine, and reworked songs that were originally recorded as Cranberry Lifecycle. In
378-452: A mind-controlled analog synthesizer. The mind-controlled synthesizer uses a voltage generator made from a circuit-bent Mattel MindFlex electronic toy, scored for one "conductor" wearing an EEG sensor. Schneider, along with experimental musician and visual artist Robert Beatty , use the voltage generator to control the filters of Moog synthesizers. Pieces performed with mind control include Schneider's "Composition for Two Hemispheres" and
420-555: A number of EPs and singles on a variety of record labels. Robert Schneider Robert Peter Schneider (born March 9, 1971) is an American musician and mathematician. He is the lead singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer of rock/pop band the Apples in Stereo and has produced and performed on albums by Neutral Milk Hotel , the Olivia Tremor Control and a number of other psychedelic and indie rock bands. Schneider co-founded The Elephant 6 Recording Company in 1992. He received
462-521: A part of the band, he still lived with Doss and Hart and was asked to play drums. After California Demise , Hart moved to Denver, while Doss moved to New York to play in the band Chocolate USA . By 1996, Doss was losing interest in Chocolate USA, and wanted to record more music with Hart. The two reconvened in Athens, and recruited multi-instrumentalists John Fernandes and Eric Harris. During this period,
SECTION 10
#1732851547248504-441: A permanent lineup set, the band was able to release Rocket 58 as an EP and sign to spinART Records , who released their first album Hooray for Tuesday in 1998. Touring and the release of some other singles ensued, and the band split, with Leaper and Cole moving from Denver to Portland, OR and recruiting future Jicks bassist Joanna Bolme . The minor upheaval resulted in the eventual release of Cul-De-Sacs And Dead Ends ,
546-493: A regular basis. After a brief reunion performance at the 2005 All Tomorrow's Parties festival, the Olivia Tremor Control scheduled more concerts over the next few years. Fernandes said: "When we got the offer to play [All Tomorrow's Parties] we were thinking about playing a few shows here and there, because everybody still lives here in town ... That went so well that we decided to do a few more." The Olivia Tremor Control officially reunited in 2009, and released two new songs over
588-424: A score by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel . Other experimental musicians have subsequently built similar units from an instructional video Schneider released online. In 2012, Schneider completed his bachelor's degree (BS) in mathematics from the University of Kentucky . That same year, he announced he was stopping touring; whether this hiatus is temporary or permanent is unclear. In 2018, Schneider completed
630-507: A string of pop songs for the Kohl's department store chain. Schneider formed a comparatively dark band in 2004 called Ulysses in Lexington, Kentucky , which released the 2005 album 010 on Eenie Meenie Records recorded live with a single microphone, and released a second Marbles album Expo in 2005 influenced by Electric Light Orchestra , as well as Gary Numan , Michael Jackson , New Order and
672-504: Is an American psychedelic band from Athens, Georgia . The band's main line-up consists of Will Cullen Hart , Bill Doss , Eric Harris, John Fernandes , and Peter Erchick. The Olivia Tremor Control's music combines indie rock and neo-psychedelia , taking influence from psychedelic pop bands of the 1960s, such as the Beach Boys and the Beatles . The Olivia Tremor Control originated as
714-405: Is an instrumental venture which recorded a soundtrack for the as-yet unreleased film Dean Quixote . Schneider also collaborated with Andy Partridge of XTC in the early 2000s, with the pair reportedly writing over thirty songs together by telephone; the project, however, produced no recorded results. Schneider also composed a number of jingles for television commercials during the 2000s, including
756-486: Is still in the works as of late 2023. Hart stated it will be the band's final album, and said: "We have three sides worth of songs done, though they're not sequenced properly yet to run three sides." The Olivia Tremor Control's music combines indie rock and neo-psychedelia . In addition to traditional pop and rock instruments such as guitars and drums, the band members also play the clarinet , flute , saxophone , theremin , violin , and xylophone . While discussing
798-630: The Olivia Tremor Control , the Minders and a number of other artists, but is best known as a producer for his work on Neutral Milk Hotel ’s critically lauded In the Aeroplane Over the Sea . The Wall of Sound production style implemented by his heroes Phil Spector and Brian Wilson was used on these records and cemented Schneider's reputation as the producer-engineer behind the sound of many bands of
840-547: The indie pop band the Apples (the name was subsequently changed to the Apples in Stereo ). The group made their first release in 1993 with the Tidal Wave EP that became the inaugural release on the Elephant 6 record label. Schneider's prowess in harnessing the sounds of Elephant 6 bands became apparent with his distinct production style. In addition to producing all of the albums for the Apples in Stereo, he's produced work for
882-429: The natural logarithms of successive whole numbers . The scale was introduced in 2007 with the release of New Magnetic Wonder , the sixth studio album by the Apples in Stereo. The album featured two brief compositions using the scale. Enhanced CD versions of the album included a third composition as well as a variety of information from Schneider concerning the scale including audio files and instructions to enable
SECTION 20
#1732851547248924-570: The 1990s, including backwards guitar echo , phasing , dreamlike vocals, and electronic sound effects. The Olivia Tremor Control was inspired by psychedelic pop bands of the 1960s, especially the Beach Boys and the Beatles , for their singing style and the way they "blended trickery and interesting sounds with pop", according to Hart. Hart notes that the band attempted to expand on the sound of 1960s psychedelic pop with modern recording technology, creating more holistic songs and avoiding what he called "hippie jam sessions ." Other influences include
966-512: The Beatles , although Stereogum noted that both Fernandes and Harris retained creative input. In 1995, the Olivia Tremor Control went to Denver, Colorado to record their debut album, Music from the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle (commonly shortened to Dusk at Cubist Castle ). It was recorded at Pet Sounds Studio , and was produced by Schneider. At 74 minutes in length with 27 songs, Dusk at Cubist Castle
1008-617: The Bubble Machine under that name. In 2017, Schneider formed the Atlanta-based band Air-sea Dolphin with guitarist Matt Chapman and bassist Mike Chapman (better known as The Brothers Chaps , creators of Homestar Runner ), guitarist Ryan Sterritt and drummer James Huggins III ( Of Montreal , Elf Power , Great Lakes , James Husband). Schneider has engaged in a number of experimental music projects taking inspiration from mathematical concepts. He has written several compositions using
1050-555: The Cars . During 2006, it was announced that Schneider was playing in a Kentucky-based psychedelic garage band with his brother-in-law, Craig Morris, called Thee American Revolution . Thee American Revolution released the lo-fi psych-pop album Buddha Electrostorm in 2009 on Garden Gate Records; the album was reissued worldwide on December 5, 2011, on UK label Fire Records . Schneider occasionally records and performs children's music as Robbert Bobbert and released an album Robbert Bobbert and
1092-476: The Elephant 6 label, which grew through the 1990s into a sprawling collective of psychedelic pop and experimental groups. Schneider has a number of solo projects. One, a project called Marbles , began with lo-fi Beach Boys -esque recordings done with Will Cullen Hart , and is the name most of Schneider's solo work appears under, beginning with the 1996 debut album "Pyramid Landing" and Other Favorites on spinART Records. Another project, Orchestre Fantastique,
1134-425: The Olivia Tremor Control released the 1994 split single The Olivia Tremor Control/The Apples in Stereo with the Apples in Stereo , and the 1996 EP The Giant Day . Doss and Hart had been working on songs for a studio album as early as 1993. Doss' ideas were more pop friendly while Hart wrote more experimental songs. Their dichotomous partnership during this era drew some comparisons to Lennon–McCartney of
1176-408: The Olivia Tremor Control released two albums: Dusk at Cubist Castle (1996) and Black Foliage (1999). Both albums received positive reviews from critics. After the release of Black Foliage , tensions grew between Hart and Doss, and the Olivia Tremor Control broke up in 2000. Hart was hospitalized with multiple sclerosis in 2005, and when Doss went to visit him, the two reconciled and reunited
1218-405: The albums are different lengths, so the effect does not actually work. In 1997, the band appeared on John Peel 's BBC Radio 1 show. Their entire appearance was recorded and released as an untitled four-track EP known as Those Sessions or John Peel Session 1997 . It includes several renditions of existing songs as well as a lengthy improvised piece in a similar style to Explanation II . In
1260-669: The band in 2009. While recording a third album, Doss died of an aneurysm in 2012. The remaining band members decided to continue performing, and as of 2023 Hart confirmed the third album was still in production. The Olivia Tremor Control originated in the late 1980s as a psychedelic band called Cranberry Lifecycle, formed in Ruston, Louisiana . It was one of many home recording projects created by high school friends Will Cullen Hart and Jeff Mangum with their friends Bill Doss and Robert Schneider . The four friends exchanged homemade cassette tapes , branding them with an imaginary record label , Elephant 6 , which eventually grew into
1302-405: The band's dynamic sound, Paul Thompson of Pitchfork called it "some unthinkable matchup of Revolver -era Beatles or Smile -era Beach Boys, the tornado-alley skronk of 1980s Flaming Lips and Butthole Surfers , and the surreal wooze of post- Reichian tape manipulation." Music critic Nig Hodgkins notes that the Olivia Tremor Control incorporate many elements found in psychedelic music of
The Minders - Misplaced Pages Continue
1344-472: The band's rare and out of print songs. Doss and Hart worked on other projects in the interim; Doss recorded music for his solo project The Sunshine Fix and was a member of the Apples in Stereo, while Hart formed the band Circulatory System . Around 2005, Hart's MS symptoms worsened, and he was admitted to a hospital. After receiving the news, Doss decided to reconcile with Hart, and the members of Olivia Tremor Control started playing music with each other on
1386-410: The indie band Neutral Milk Hotel . Doss and Hart renamed their group the Olivia Tremor Control, a surreal -sounding phrase with no further meaning, suggested by Mangum. The first Olivia Tremor Control release was the extended play (EP) California Demise in 1994, which introduced many of their signature elements, including guitar effects and vocal harmonization. Although Mangum was no longer
1428-467: The liner notes for Dusk at Cubist Castle , the Olivia Tremor Control asked fans to mail the band cassette tapes of themselves describing their dreams. These tapes served as the basis for band's second album Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One (commonly shortened to Black Foliage ). The Olivia Tremor Control wanted to explore the concept of dreams, and the way they emulate life with unexpected deviations, such as going to work naked. Black Foliage
1470-434: The listener to prepare a MIDI keyboard to play in the non-Pythagorean scale. Below is a list of selected works crediting Schneider as performer (incomplete list). In addition to producing all of the albums for The Apples in Stereo, Schneider has produced, engineered and mixed numerous albums for fellow Elephant 6 bands and other artists, including the following. Olivia Tremor Control The Olivia Tremor Control
1512-479: The next two years: "North Term Reality" and "The Game You Play Is in Your Head, Parts 1, 2, & 3." On July 31, 2012, the band announced that Doss had died aged 43. Atlanta later reported the cause of death as an aneurysm . Prior to his death, the Olivia Tremor Control was recording music for an untitled album. The remaining members decided to continue performing as the Olivia Tremor Control, and another album
1554-495: The standard verse–chorus form . Black Foliage was released by Flydaddy Records on March 23, 1999, to positive reviews. Critics highlighted the juxtaposition of pop and experimental elements, as well as the richness of the sound. To promote the album, the Olivia Tremor Control toured with opener band Bablicon , and then served as an opener for Stereolab . In 2000, the band wrote and recorded five songs with Japanese singer Kahimi Karie , released under her name as Once Upon
1596-416: The summer of 1993, Doss moved to Athens and joined Synthetic Flying Machine. The lineup consisted of Hart on electric guitar, Doss on bass guitar, and Mangum on drums. The band gained a small following due in part to the psychedelic-infused music, which differed from the prevalent grunge sound in the city. Mangum left the group shortly after its formation to focus on a solo project, which eventually became
1638-508: Was Junior and Senior class president, and spending two years at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana , Schneider moved to Denver, Colorado to attend university. Although he subsequently left school to pursue his musical ambitions, his academic interests remained strong as an avid student of analytic number theory . Soon after moving to Denver, Colorado in 1991 Schneider met Hilarie Sidney , Jim McIntyre and Chris Parfitt , who formed
1680-504: Was a large undertaking. It was purported to be the soundtrack to a fictional film, and covers a wide range of genres, including psychedelia, krautrock , noise music , and folk-rock . Dusk at Cubist Castle was released on August 6, 1996, by Flydaddy Records. The songs "The Opera House" and "Jumping Fences" were released as singles . To promote the album, the Olivia Tremor Control served as an opener for Beck , and toured with Gorky's Zygotic Mynci in 1998. Keyboardist Peter Erchick
1722-620: Was brought on as the fifth band member while on tour. Dusk at Cubist Castle received positive reviews from critics, who noted the intricate composition and judicious use of pop elements. It ranked at number 37 on The Village Voice 's year-end Pazz & Jop critics' poll. Early CD pressings of Dusk at Cubist Castle included a companion album, Explanation II: Instrumental Themes and Dream Sequences , which had nine ambient songs. The liner notes for Explanation II suggested that it should be played in synchronicity with Dusk at Cubist Castle to create quadraphonic sound , although
The Minders - Misplaced Pages Continue
1764-455: Was recorded at Pet Sounds Studio, and Schneider once again served as the producer. Hart was influenced by the electronic sound of the 1969 White Noise album An Electric Storm , which led him to splice traditional compositions the band members had been writing with experimental electronic pieces. These splices became an important musical motif for Black Foliage . The album does not feature musical pauses or fade , and many songs eschew
#247752