Guy Gerber has always been comfortable as an outlier. From being the rock kid at the rave, to the Israeli DJ on the European club circuit, to the electronic producer with a fetish for live instruments, he tends to skirt the edge of whatever scene he´s in. It´s a position that suits him well—so far it´s led to dozens of lush, melodic records, an ever-evolving live act and his own label, Supplement Facts. This nonconformist attitude, combined with the emotional content of his art (so rare in today´s electronic music), explains how Gerber keeps his audience locked in, be it on record or on stage.

Before he was fiddling with drum machines and synths, Gerber was all about groups like Joy Division and My Bloody Valentine. These influences still echo clearly in his music today, especially in his use of harmony, contemplative moods and trippy, shoegaze-inspired sounds. It´s a style that´s anything but conventional, yet one that quickly drew in some of Europe´s most popular labels; three years after his recording debut, Gerber released the first of several records on John Digweed´s Bedrock imprint.

A couple of years later, Sven Väth signed him to Cocoon, eventually releasing his album Late Bloomers. All the while, he was building Supplement Facts from the ground up, showcasing his own productions alongside those by likeminded artists, and illustrating each record sleeve by hand, so each release embodied his distinct creative panache. Guy Gerber’s Supplement Facts mark the next episode for the label with a enduring collection of their best-loved and future classic releases on ‘Heartbeats’.

Featuring label stalwarts dOP, Lee Curtiss, Ryan Crosson & Guti and Guy Gerber himself, ‘Heartbeats’ weaves through the intricacies of Supplement Fact’s diverse sound. An embodiment of the ethereal yet always consistent and steadfast this special collection illustrates how label has shaped its character around a string of timeless creations.

“For a long time we have worked the label on a feeling, and that feeling has served us and our artists well and led us to believe that we can help careers, even make them,” explains Israeli label head Guy Gerber of the ethos of his Supplement Facts label. “I would say we try to be as original and diverse as possible, sometimes focusing on the artistic side of electronic music and sometimes releasing strictly dance floor tracks.”

Opening ‘Heartbeats’ are the Brooklyn based musical partnership, No Regular Play, and their forthcoming synth led creature, ‘Fall Up To The Sky’ featuring the vocals of Maya Hatch. The label’s 20th release from Til Von Sein ensues, a melodic tapestry of house, before Visionquest man of the moment Lee Curtiss presents his illustrious style in ‘I Can Hear You Arthur’, a sumptuous number that tows the line between the light and darkness of contemporary dancefloor music. Curtiss alongside fellow Visionquest member Ryan Crosstown have both released much original music on Supplement Facts and heralded key releases on the imprint.

The broody nature of Supplement Facts rumbles in Michel Cleis’ ‘Dark Glasses’, presenting a driving track echoing with chimes echoes and tribal calls and smoothed down with sweet saxophone solos. Crosson collaborates with South American creative, Guti on ‘You’ve Got Me’, a tantalizing affair teasing its flavours out slowly. Its skipping beats and sassy vocal licks culminate in an encompassing bass and a swirling breakdown to get lost in.

The enigmatic French trio and Supplement Facts label staples, dOP unleash a unique sonic assault of deep and visceral house music in ‘The Genius Of The Crowd’ and ‘Half Naked’. In typical style, dOP flirt with whispered vocals and massage the energies of the body with a playful and soothing approach. Seuil’s ‘Ultravision’ brought the talented Parisien to Supplement Facts for the first time earlier this year. The mesmeric progression of liquid bleeps and deep rhythms is heightened by the poignant and husky drawl of Jaw bleeding through this enveloping crisp record.

Guy Gerber rounds of the compilation with two of his own releases, the new ominous siren filled ‘Nothing Can Be True’, taken from sessions with P Diddy and closes with the radiant ‘Hate Love’, remixed by Chicago’s finest lady, Kate Simko. Gerber has reinvented his own strain of house music and taken the underground music scene by storm in his short career. The Israeli beholds a dream like fluid vision of contemporary dance music that resonates through his label’s own sound, imprinting itself into the wider consciousness.

Gerber started Supplement Facts in 2006 to explore the outer realms of his imagination, since which he has embedded it deeply within the world of electronic music. One of the only labels to emerge from Israel, its innovative and original approach has not gone unnoticed by the broader community. ‘Heartbeats’ marks a new chapter as Supplement Facts embark on an expansion through a string of pioneering album projects.

Much of this year has seen Gerber locked in the studio working on his own collaboration with P Diddy. However Supplement Facts remains his priority, reflected in the continued evolution of its music and ethos. “We are stepping up our game. We want to make albums, we want to A&R artists to produce with, even write. We want to take the label on the road and do parties that reflect the diversity of not just our artists, but our taste. More importantly, we want to have fun. The music industry is not an easy place in 2011, people don´t really make money like they used to, so for us it is important to entertain not just our audience but also ourselves.” Guy Gerber 2011.

Tracklist:
No Regular Play ‘Fall Up To The Sky’
Till Von Sein ‘Sundowna’
Lee Curtiss ‘I Can Hear You Arthur’
Michel Cleis ‘Dark Glasses’
Ryan Crosson & Guti ‘You’ve Got Me’
dOP ‘The Genius Of The Crowd’
Guy Gerber ‘Nothing Can Be True’
dOp ‘Half Naked’
Seuil ‘ Ultravision Feat. Jaw’
Guy Gerber ‘Hate Love’ (Kate Simko’s Liquid Disco Remix)

Info:
Various – ‘Heartbeats’
Supplement Facts (SFR026CD)
Release Date: Monday October 3rd, 2011
Distribution: Word and Sound

to visit the websites:
Guy Gerber
Supplement Facts