Michael Mayer and Superpitcher, two of Germany's minimal masters, officially joined forces to form Supermayer. The pair plan to 'Save the World' -- or at least electronic music -- with their debut album, on which the Kompakt label mates find themselves at the crossroads of grinding-techno and electro-pop derived from a combination of live and virtual instruments.

"We started a band," Aksel Schaufler, aka Superpitcher, told Spinner. "Over the past decade or so, it wasn't exactly the coolest thing to do and we felt comfortable being lone warriors." The electronic supergroup recently made the American rounds, rocking clubs decks and efx style. "So far we only player a few 'supernights,'" Schaufler said, "playing all night long with some special gimmicks and tricks added -- spending a whole night with the audience, playing our favorite music to them."

The pair set out to make a record outside of their normal realm. "It would have been rather boring to just mix the Mayer/Superpitcher ingredients 50/50 and fulfill expectations with another minimal dance record," Schaufler said. Although dark and minimal at point, they record does show a lighter, snyth-pop side that's fairly well hidden in the late night dance floor bangers they are known for as solo artists. "The album got slammed by a few techno purists on both sides of the pond. But it received tons of love from people who simply enjoy listening to music."

In the studio, the pair combined live instruments with technology, processing them digitally. "We're not against digital sound processing at all, but we feel that there's too much music out there that doesn't have any character or soul," Schaufler said. "We decided to take a more playful and unique approach."

On the remix tip, both Mayer and Superpitcher are well known in the space, reworking the likes of Depeche Mode and M83 as solo artists. Together they take a different approach at the art of remixing. "Supermayer are organizing chaos whereas Superpitcher or Michael Mayer solo would take a more structured approach," Schaufler said. The pair have taken on Rufus Wainwright's 'Tiergarten' among many notable local techno acts and Kompakt label mates. "We're really into the neo folk and psychedelic scene But we're both listening to a very broad spectrum of music from all times and origins. We're music lovers by heart."

Supermayer's diversity from track to track on 'Save the World' can be attributed to time spent listening to music ranging from Sufjan Stevens and Panda Bear to Antony and the Johnsons. "We're really into the neo folk and psychedelic scene, we're both listening to a very broad spectrum of music from all times and origins," Schaufler said. "We're music lovers by heart."

Meanwhile, with all of the groundbreaking producers that Supermayer have crossed paths with, the duo would choose Phil Spector to remix their track :because he'd turn 'The Lonesome King' into gold." You can pick up 'Saves the World' on Beatport, and look out for more U.S. dates in 2008.

Download: Supermayer, 'The Art of Letting Go' (MP3)

Supermayer, 'Live in Belgrade, Serbia' (DJ Set)




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