In Canterbury there used to be a half decent HMV shop. DVDs, t-shirts and nonsense downstairs, music on CD and vinyl upstairs. Assistants who loved music and put interesting stuff on the speakers. Youngsters who were helpful and knew their stuff (or if they didn't knew who to ask).
They kept a pretty good jazz section in the CDs, with a fairly fluid stock and I'm sure this was where I picked up this offering from British contemporary jazz combo, Polar Bear.
Of course, in the name of progress they closed that shop, and opened a smaller one in a newer precinct, which sold a few CDs (I'd estimate about one third the number) but lots more t-shirts, cuddly toys, sweets and general tourist/kiddie tat. So, fuck you, HMV, I won't shed any tears when you go bust.
Back to Polar Bear. Fine name for a band, which revolves around percussionist and composer Sebastian Rochford, saxophonists Pete Wareham and Mark Lockheart, and double bassist Tom Herbert. Most of the pieces are gentle, flowing sax pieces, which invite you to listen rather than just accept them as background. it does get experimental and squeaky at times, but they get the balance spot on, to these ears.
As the album progresses, it gets a little more experimental, especially the brilliantly bonkers Urban Kilt, composed by bassist Herbert. There's a vocal track, Snow, which slows the pace right down, and sounds a little out of place, and the tunes which follow that feel just a little too long, and lacking in hooks. There's some interesting bits in New Dark Park, but not nine minutes' worth and the album ends with a Wild Horses, a brooding. moody lounge piece providing a smooth start and a more chaotic end to a really good debut.
4* - while some pieces feel a little long, this is a great debut for Polar Bear
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