planeta del hielo
Minus The Bear’s last album, Menos el Oso, paired with their blistering live show converted my common-law wife and I into enormous boosters of the band. The sampled and looped guitar figures that make up the foundation of most of the songs on the album are inventive, a bit trippy, and extremely engaging. This is truly one of the last great guitar bands out there today.
Like their first two albums, their newly-released 2xLP Planet of Ice is also an adventurous listen. I say 2xLP not because I like sounding like/being a vinyl snob (which I am and do) but because this album didn’t really connect with me digitally. It seemed a little distant and cold until I put on the gorgeously packaged vinyl release (which sold out the first pressing even before the release date).
It is for the most part a characteristically fantastic effort by one of “indie rock’s” most unique, consistent, and imaginative bands. The only big stumble is sex-jam “White Mystery,” which is musically down-tempo and hampered by an extremely unfortunate lyric or two. The worst part is that its immediate predecessor is “Knights,” a great track in the glitch-rock style of Menos el Oso. I’ve tried to get past it, but “White Mystery” is a bit of a blight on an otherwise gorgeous album.
But a big of a stumble as it is (and many fans of the record disagree with me on that song), the second LP makes up for it. The whole sound just gels perfectly –- “When We Escape” and “Double Vision Quest” are on par with the best from their previous releases, bringing some quality riffage while distancing itself from the glitchy, looped, and processed guitar figures that marked Menos (and also made it completely unique). The nine-minute closer, “Lotus,” jams so hard you could spread it on toast. Face-melting solos and more subtle guitar wizardry than most bands command in a lifetime is crammed into that holy hell of a track.
Planet of Ice as a title might prove a bit disingenuous – the sounds contained within are incredibly warm and human, despite relying heavily on processed guitars and ethereal keys. A vastly enjoyable listen.
Knights [3:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download When We Escape [4:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Electric Rainbow (b-side) [3:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadMinus the Bear music can be purchased from:
iTunes: lots here
Planet Of Ice vinyl: from Vinyl Collective (very few left available)
Suicide Squeeze: The band’s label offers a complete discography through their site.
