by Juliet Cangelosi
Fairly or unfairly, there is an implied expectation that musicians will reinvent themselves at every turn in their career. This must be done in such a way that stays true to the essence of the artist that won their fans over in the first place yet still pushes their sound forward in a new direction. It’s a difficult line to walk for a veteran group like Minus the Bear and, while daunting, it hasn’t stopped them. Their latest album VOIDS is textured with intricate rhythms and instrumentation that maintain the band’s math rock signature. It feels less urgent than the last, possibly indicative of where the bandmates (now in their forties and on their sixth studio album) are at in the arc of their lives and careers. After the recent departure of longtime drummer Erin Tate and a significant label switch, Minus the Bear has ushered in a new chapter marked by both dance and contemplation.
