It
has been [loosely] stated that with each evolving Minmae
album, you should expect something different that what you thought
was [the band known as] Minmae.
A talented, young-ish man equipped with multiple musical directions,
I suppose Sean Brooks listens to the tin-echoed whispers in his
head and acts accordingly.
For
835, Brooks and Minmae have crafted an impressive album
that valiantly joins the band's earlier 'electronic' angle [see:
Microcassette Quatrains (Bluesanct)]
and their more recent transient rock band releases [I'd be
scared, were you still burning (Greyday Records)].
The sonic undertones of "Goodbye" and "Pay More"
- both with a nesting bed of shortwave radio frequencies and transmissions
- more than prove that Minmae, on their ninth full-length, are
a strong + constantly evolving force in the otherwise world of
really fucked up 'indie rock'. Additionally,
cautiously progressive [-or "murky undertoned"..?] songs
like "Your Band Controls The Weather" [also
the title of an EP from earlier this year] show this Oregon collective
aren't overly comfortable with the spiritless tag of "poppy"
[a term that can refer to Minmae - in certain instances,
of course].
Truth?
Admittedly,
this is the first Minmae album¹ that I can play from start
to finish and have nil a moment of difficulty maintaining focus
- and that is not to knock any previous²
outings. It may be best said that with 835, Minmae have
tactfully placed only those tools required in their Professor
Keen Bean work belts to craft an album that avoids immediate
classification, and keeps the listener guessing as to what will
come next. Makes sense to me - watch your back.
¹,
²:
I own only four Miname LPs; biased bastard - opinions are for
the dead, for their decision has been made.
"I
can't take another moment in the mainstream".
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