![Review: Minus the Bear - Infinity Overhead [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/1/3/8/5/7/infinity.jpg)
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Minus the Bear are one of those bands that come with a lot of prefixes.
Aside from the usual bluff of the Math/Experimental/Post Rock tags that follow any band that veer away from a standard time signature, it’s safe to say that the Seattle outfit have been making interesting records over the last 10 or so years - and that’s all you really need to know before venturing into new album Infinity Overhead.
Opener 'Steel and Blood'’s title is symptomatic of the grittier direction Minus the Bearhave set out to explore on their latest record. A distorted plucking guitar riff sets a harsh tone and the band build on that with keyboards, crashing drums and Jake Snider’s lamenting vocals. The song proceeds in fits and starts, lurching forward and layered to perfection with delightful guitar noodling, harmonic vocal sweeps and beguilingly bleak subject matter dealing with a road accident. If lyrics like “See me spinning loud, call the ambulance/These shaking hands are soaking wet” don’t let their audience know they’re in for a altogether more mature ride then nothing will.
The music takes on a harder edge in several songs as well, such as the razor sharp riff on ‘Lonely Gun’ but Infinity Overhead is a stunningly immersive blend of musical ingredients and can’t be safely confined to any lazy generalisation. An array of time signatures and extremely creative instrumental riffing make Infinity Overhead a rewarding and unpredictable listen. ‘Zoska’ and the chiming guitar effects on ‘Heaven Is A Ghost Town’ both make use of some great funky melodies to defy your expectations and change moods in an extremely accomplished way. Everything from funk to grunge is fed through the Minus The Bear sound with exciting moments coming thick and fast.
http://soundcloud.com/bsmrocks/minus-the-bear-steel-and-blood
Minus the Bear have always been an eclectic bunch and their records usually offer a varied, dynamic set of songs but one always rooted, behind the uptempo patterns, in a Post Rock sensibility for epic, song-defining moments. Moments that place you at the top of a cliff and send the breeze through your hair as you gaze down at the sheer scale of it all. Moments that unfortunately aren’t as forthcoming as on previous releases by the band, the more muscular, bassy sound taking a little of the euphoric joy out of the music. Still, the highs of Infinity Overhead still beat almost every other guitar band out there and songs like 'Diamond Lightning' still build to singular moments of musical glory in a brilliantly focused manner.
Singer Snider takes a more prominent position in the mix this time around. You get the sense that this is a more vocal-centred LP than their previous offerings and tracks like ‘Lies and Eyes’ and ‘Zeros’ sound warm and rich as the vocals get a nice boost, sounding syrupy and emotive. Vocal harmonising on ‘Heaven is a Ghost Town’ and the previously mentioned tracks add layers of moody atmosphere with great effect
Among the many examples of varied musical influences guiding Minus the Bear on Infinity Overhead, perhaps my favourite is the soulful RnB inflection on ‘Empty Party Rooms’ and ‘Lies and Eyes’, a subtle undertone that fits so perfectly with the feeling of distant warmth the band cultivate. Among all the stylish flourishes on the album, it seems churlish to highlight only a few from such a rich mix. Ultimately though, the only way to do this record justice is to listen yourself. If you let it take you along for the ride, there’s a lot to enjoy in Infinity Overhead.
Aside from the usual bluff of the Math/Experimental/Post Rock tags that follow any band that veer away from a standard time signature, it’s safe to say that the Seattle outfit have been making interesting records over the last 10 or so years - and that’s all you really need to know before venturing into new album Infinity Overhead.
Opener 'Steel and Blood'’s title is symptomatic of the grittier direction Minus the Bearhave set out to explore on their latest record. A distorted plucking guitar riff sets a harsh tone and the band build on that with keyboards, crashing drums and Jake Snider’s lamenting vocals. The song proceeds in fits and starts, lurching forward and layered to perfection with delightful guitar noodling, harmonic vocal sweeps and beguilingly bleak subject matter dealing with a road accident. If lyrics like “See me spinning loud, call the ambulance/These shaking hands are soaking wet” don’t let their audience know they’re in for a altogether more mature ride then nothing will.
The music takes on a harder edge in several songs as well, such as the razor sharp riff on ‘Lonely Gun’ but Infinity Overhead is a stunningly immersive blend of musical ingredients and can’t be safely confined to any lazy generalisation. An array of time signatures and extremely creative instrumental riffing make Infinity Overhead a rewarding and unpredictable listen. ‘Zoska’ and the chiming guitar effects on ‘Heaven Is A Ghost Town’ both make use of some great funky melodies to defy your expectations and change moods in an extremely accomplished way. Everything from funk to grunge is fed through the Minus The Bear sound with exciting moments coming thick and fast.
http://soundcloud.com/bsmrocks/minus-the-bear-steel-and-blood
Minus the Bear have always been an eclectic bunch and their records usually offer a varied, dynamic set of songs but one always rooted, behind the uptempo patterns, in a Post Rock sensibility for epic, song-defining moments. Moments that place you at the top of a cliff and send the breeze through your hair as you gaze down at the sheer scale of it all. Moments that unfortunately aren’t as forthcoming as on previous releases by the band, the more muscular, bassy sound taking a little of the euphoric joy out of the music. Still, the highs of Infinity Overhead still beat almost every other guitar band out there and songs like 'Diamond Lightning' still build to singular moments of musical glory in a brilliantly focused manner.
Singer Snider takes a more prominent position in the mix this time around. You get the sense that this is a more vocal-centred LP than their previous offerings and tracks like ‘Lies and Eyes’ and ‘Zeros’ sound warm and rich as the vocals get a nice boost, sounding syrupy and emotive. Vocal harmonising on ‘Heaven is a Ghost Town’ and the previously mentioned tracks add layers of moody atmosphere with great effect
Among the many examples of varied musical influences guiding Minus the Bear on Infinity Overhead, perhaps my favourite is the soulful RnB inflection on ‘Empty Party Rooms’ and ‘Lies and Eyes’, a subtle undertone that fits so perfectly with the feeling of distant warmth the band cultivate. Among all the stylish flourishes on the album, it seems churlish to highlight only a few from such a rich mix. Ultimately though, the only way to do this record justice is to listen yourself. If you let it take you along for the ride, there’s a lot to enjoy in Infinity Overhead.
Infinity Overhead is out on August 28th.
Tracks to check out:
Dig Deeper: Tracks to check out:
- Steel and Blood
- Zoska
- Diamond Lightning
- Zeros
- Heaven Is A Ghost Town
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