Post by thesoundmonitor on Jul 5, 2004 4:44:48 GMT -5
OFF MINOR
Innominate
(Building)
Whereas screamo as a genre may only now be coming in to it’s own, Off Minor have moved beyond the trappings and created what could arguably called the first post-screamo album, in the form of Innominate. Formed from the ashes of Saetia, Off Minor fuse layman’s jazz with precise noise, twisting and turning so as to confuse and bamboozle the listener.
I use the term layman’s jazz, for while the noise is backed with complex timings and fret-defying bass lines, the trio is are quite obviously no John Zorn or Sun Ra protégés. Nevertheless, Off Minor are competent at their craft, which they clearly demonstrate on ‘Demolition Heuristic’ – a track oscillating from bar room jazz to construction zone cacophony.
At times, Innominate is as nonsensical as its’ title, with bass lines weaving amidst clinical beats, discordant chord changes and howling vocals one moment, with it all becoming sedate and introverted the following. ‘Devil Ether’ is this perplexity incarnate.
Recorded by Off Minor’s drummer (Steve somebody?!), the production is a little muddy, unfortunately detracting from the precision of the musicianship.
How this three-piece manage to recreate this mess live is beyond me, though I intend on finding out as they tour Australian shores this month.
By Warren Wheeler
www.buildrecords.com
Innominate
(Building)
Whereas screamo as a genre may only now be coming in to it’s own, Off Minor have moved beyond the trappings and created what could arguably called the first post-screamo album, in the form of Innominate. Formed from the ashes of Saetia, Off Minor fuse layman’s jazz with precise noise, twisting and turning so as to confuse and bamboozle the listener.
I use the term layman’s jazz, for while the noise is backed with complex timings and fret-defying bass lines, the trio is are quite obviously no John Zorn or Sun Ra protégés. Nevertheless, Off Minor are competent at their craft, which they clearly demonstrate on ‘Demolition Heuristic’ – a track oscillating from bar room jazz to construction zone cacophony.
At times, Innominate is as nonsensical as its’ title, with bass lines weaving amidst clinical beats, discordant chord changes and howling vocals one moment, with it all becoming sedate and introverted the following. ‘Devil Ether’ is this perplexity incarnate.
Recorded by Off Minor’s drummer (Steve somebody?!), the production is a little muddy, unfortunately detracting from the precision of the musicianship.
How this three-piece manage to recreate this mess live is beyond me, though I intend on finding out as they tour Australian shores this month.
By Warren Wheeler
www.buildrecords.com