In today’s music culture, a leave of absence can be a dangerous move. Minus the Bear spent the course of 53 weeks in the studio in addition to extended lengths of time on the road. Their previous effort, Planet of Ice, came out at the tail end of summer in 2007, when guitar driven indie pop seemed to reaching it’s zenith and while the musical landscape began coasting into largely synth based music. It is with little surprise that upon hearing OMNI, the game had obviously changed.
Filtered drums swell in the intro of “My Time”, the most synth heavy affair on the album. Maybe synth heavy doesn’t encompass the sonics of the song: it IS a synth pop song. Here MTB proclaims “we can do that.” The next tracks “Summer Angel” and “Secret Country” are largely business as usual for the band, with the word “largely” excluding the amount of space the band creates and allows on these tracks.
“Secret Country” however gives the first real taste of openness, with the breakdown surprising most of all, if for nothing more than its use of roto toms! It feels like the band attempted to sneak their love for Pink Floyd in here, with the effected guitar and droning synthesizers.
The mid section of the album is most noticeable for its varied use of vocals. Here they have been refined to their purest form. Most love them or hate them. It would be nice to hear a different array of effects on the vocals.
Most bands are masters of a certain dynamic. MTB have mastered tense and nervy two guitar rock. OMNI shows less of the overtly mathematical and precise guitar, and more of the dynamics that a full band can create. The bass and keys have historically been underplayed (the bass more so), the keys often mimicking and rephrasing guitar lines. Here both are allowed to proudly wave their flags and showcase their relevance in the quintet.
That’s not to say that the abundance of atmosphere comes at the expense of the guitars and drums. Often the guitars provide rhythmic interplay that help create the tight, complex rhythms the band is known for.
Make no mistake, heavily effected guitar is still prevalent. The stuttering samples, often played backwards and/or at double speed are still in abundance. As a whole the album displays a remarkable amount of wah guitar with its funk leanings, a first for the band.
Their love for electronic music is most prominent on “Animal Backwards”. I want to say that it’s a club hit in disguise, but that would be a disservice to the band. It’s a club hit. I can imagine it at a nearly painful 120db, drunk and hazy, needing to unbutton just one more button to breathe easier.
They return from the club with “Dayglow Vista Rd.”, a track that would sound at home near the end of Menos El Oso. But what comes next is as surprising as what came before it.
“Fooled By The Night” glides in with reverberated organ sounds giving the vocals all the room they need to lead. The song’s crescendo is mild, but it’s every bit suited to the song. Arguably the most honest and vulnerable lyrics on the album, though the vocals show their limitations.
But they’re ok with it. They’re not a top 40 artist, despite producer Joe Chiccarelli’s noticeable assistance. Minus The Bear is a band that has climbed the ladder to be where they are, doing what they want, and what they love.
Yeah, the production is slicker than any thing we’ve seen from them yet. And yes, I was hoping for an album full of sounds as wild as “Broken China”, the b-side from their winter 2009 single. But it’s another step. This being the most logical.
If you wanted more of the same, you’ll get some. But just enough to remind you who you’re listening to. If nothing else, OMNI is a great summer album to spend some time between the sheets with.
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