Minus The Bear - "OMNI"

Minus The Bear are back with OMNI, their fourth album and first for their new label, Dangerbird Records. Already known for their inventive guitar work (the Line 6 brand of guitar effect pedals is currently running a Minus The Bear themed contest) the band has branched out even further into danceable synth rock on their most energetic and experimental album.

The infectious first single and opening track, “My Time” is an upbeat, seductive synth-heavy dance party with shockingly little guitar. But with a syncopated rhythm, the guitars crash the party on “Summer Angel”, a breezy and poetic ode to summer love. The darkly romantic “Secret Country” opens with crunchy guitars and rattling cowbell and includes a prog-y guitar solo and roto toms (!), which showcases the depth of composition the band creates along with the glossy production provided by Joe Chiccarelli (My Morning Jacket, The White Stripes). “Excuses” stands out blending jazzy passages, cascading keyboards and cyclical guitars with New Wave inspired synths. “The Thief” features elastic guitars and a stuttering disco beat along with a dueling guitar and keyboard solo. The brooding “Into The Mirror” sounds straight from the 80’s and features vocals from Rachel Flotard of Visqueen for a nice contrast. Another standout, “Animal Backwards” is full of glitchy blips and beeps and psychedelic paranoia. And “Fooled by the Night” closes out the album with a wall of synth washes and more creative processed guitars.

Although already divisive among some fans due to the drastic shift in sound, OMNI is quite possibly their best record yet and each listen brings a new and unexpected layer of sound to discover.

Download "My Time" here:http://minusthebear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/01-My-Time.mp3

For more info click here: http://www.minusthebear.com/ and http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/