Seattle band Minus the Bear has mellowed a bit since the wacky song titles and glitchy math-rock of its 2001 debut album, "This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic." The layered rhythms and forward-driving beats are still there, but the band's newest release, "Omni," seems almost like mood music in comparison.
The more laid-back sound is not necessarily a bad thing, although it is unexpected coming from alums of hardcore bands Botch and Kill Sadie. Still, the group's current approach is to create more of a trancelike atmosphere through serene vocals and lyrical repetitions. The murmured line "I'm giving you up, giving you up" on "Hold Me Down" sounds more like an idle threat with each hazy repetition.
There is an intriguing disparity between those detached, placid vocals and the rest of the instrumentation. Song after song, the more intricate part of Minus the Bear's music is the staccato math-rock melodies behind singer Jake Snider. "The Thief" grooves with a sassy guitar line, while "Secret Country" has a driving energy despite the restraint in Snider's vocals. His dreamlike singing makes the group's music sparkle, but the real substance is a ways beneath the surface.
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