No bother... I'm a detailed kind of bloke!

I wasn't suggesting that you include all of sounds that I mentioned in that list - I was just trying to point out all the sounds that would be considered percussion, not that a beat needed to include ALL those parts...

I mean, even if you listen to a quality minimal track, where theres only a kick drum, a simple hi-hat and a clap, you'll notice that those sounds are crisp, clear and strong. probably theres some reverb on the hi-hat or clap or both, and probably theres some kind of simple bass (which may not actually be the bassline) on prehaps every kick, just before or just after.. and in this case I would consider the bass to be PART of the beat, where it is accentuating the kick, or adding nessesary low end...

The same excersice I mentioned can be done with a really minimal beat, and in that case pay REALLY close attention to the eq and effects and levels of parts. You should end up with have a beat that can stand on its own without the bassline or leading parts, even if its really minimal...

Download the Richie Hawtin mix from the techno filez section, thats sure to have minimal beats a plenty...

;)