+/- {Plus/Minus} and the hyper kinetic indie rock abstractions of "Borrowed Time" (Official Video)

 

"years of dissatisfaction / magnified..."

The hyper kinetic tubular glitch and pop storytelling of "Borrowed Time" by Brooklyn's +/- {Plus/Minus}, from the band's new album "Further Afield", out May 31 on Ernest Jenning Record Co., feels raw, feels inspired maybe with the youthful instincts of a musician who got lost in video games as a kid. Apart from the twists and turns, the song feels grand, ultra jammy, lost and eerie all at once. I cannot readily find any other artist comparisons here but maybe an amalgam of Tokyo Police Club, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Throw Me the Statue, early Smashing Pumpkins and Polaris from The Adventures of Pete & Pete feels right.

The beautiful erratic nature of this song might have to do with how it was brilliantly constructed.

FROM LINER NOTES (bracketed):

Quote from the band’s Patrick Ramos:

[Borrowed Time, an uplifting song about how resentment builds throughout the life of a relationship (the usual light +/- {Plus/Minus} subject matter), began as an exercise using a feature on the Moog Matriarch synthesizer that randomizes octaves so you don’t know where any single note will land. James recorded the first sound it generated and built the structure of the song around it. Chris, after recording his drum part, decided to double it in an attempt to mimic his first performance. With only slight variations in his play, each take is hard-panned to the left and right resulting in the effect of an expanded and dizzying stereo picture. An 808 was used in lieu of bass guitar and Patrick added a frenetic electric guitar before James recorded vocals.]

[Self-recorded in the band’s Brooklyn studio and a friend's house in Saratoga Springs, "Further Afield" incorporates a wide array of unconventional elements: AI strings from Sounds.Studio (an AI music platform co-founded by Chris), the ethereal harmonies of a high school choir, the endearing voice of Chris' grandfather, and an eclectic mix of newly learned instruments including the singing saw, pedal steel guitar, Omnichord, clarinet and vibraphone.]

THE OFFICIAL VIDEOS:

[A set of band-created videos accompanies the release of “Further Afield”. These videos continue the band’s trend of lo-fi, theoretical, playful, and engaging companion pieces. Standouts include: Borrowed Time, a surreal and mesmerizing series of video loops shot in near darkness utilizing the ultra-long exposure “Astrophotography” setting on a Pixel 7 Pro phone; Gondolier, an epic three-section video spanning three seasons and starring multiple doppelganger instances of each band member which mirrors the epic three section song while highlighting the band’s multi-instrumentalist songwriting approach; and Calling Off the Rescue, a monochrome verité document shot entirely by the band as they rehearsed the song, showcasing their strength as a live act. Moving forward, the band plans to release a video for each of the album’s songs, including one completely created via code, which, in addition to being released as a video, will also be released as open-source code enabling fans to make their own videos.]

As pop music over the last 20 years has been distilled down to the most simplest of patterns / shapes and about 5 chords, it is always exciting to find indie rock / power pop that still takes chances while still feeling accessible. 

-Robb Donker Curtius

     

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://www.instagram.com/plusminusnyc/

https://www.facebook.com/pluminu

https://twitter.com/pluminu

https://plusmin.us/

https://plusminusnyc.bandcamp.com/album/further-afield

For more than twenty years, +/- {Plus/Minus} has stood as a captivating fixture in the indie rock scene, defying simple categorization while blending futuristic odd-time signature pop with electronic elements and traditional rock instrumentation. The band's origins trace back to the friendship of childhood friends Patrick Ramos and James Baluyut, who would go on to play with 90s New York indie stalwarts Versus. Following the (temporary!) dissolution of Versus in 2001, Ramos and Baluyut welcomed seasoned drummer Chris Deaner, hailing from the Austin music scene, into the fold This fruitful collaboration led to the creation of five full-length albums, several EPs, a video compilation DVD, and extensive tours across the United States, Europe, and Asia, alongside acts including Death Cab For Cutie, The Wrens, Mates of State and more.

As the band members transitioned into parenthood, they continued to write together. Weekly recording sessions became a cornerstone of their routine, slowly redefining their sound and sonic palette. This work culminates with the release of their sixth full-length LP entitled "Further Afield." The band's first LP a decade, it showcases a more propulsive approach while still leaning into the epic hooks the band is known for. Among the ten tracks, standouts include the first single, Borrowed Time, a sparse synth-driven frenetic pop song; Calling Off the Rescue, a plaintive yet raucous slice of jangling guitar and massive builds; and Gondolier, a seven minute 4-on-the-floor exploration traversing multiple musical styles. Experimentation, catchy melodies, and dark lyrical themes persist but are re-energized by the new rhythmic approach.

+/- {Plus/Minus}, indie rock, alt pop, alt rock, indie rock, experimental rock, synth pop, "Borrowed Time" (Official Video), new album "Further Afield", kinetic, art pop, Brooklyn,