Minus The Bear
Planet Of Ice
Seattle's premier pop revisionists Minus The Bear dug into some of rock music's most ostentatious years for inspiration for their 2007 album 'Planet Of Ice'. The title alone conjures images of Yes's Relayer album art, and the influence of the elder statesmen's symphonic scope can be felt throughout the album's lush and intricate arrangements. The band channels the ominous instrumental interplay of 'Lamb Lays..'-era Genesis, the deceptively savvy musicianship and pristine production of Steely Dan and the tightrope walk between ethereal space and pre-metal riffage of Pink Floyd's 'Echoes'. Not that Minus The Bear completely abandoned their earlier style - elements of 'Menos El Oso's sample-driven technique are still there - but the heart of the song ultimately belongs to the haunting Fripp-esque guitar lines spliced between verses. Comes on splattered vinyl.