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Review
Polar Bear sit as something of an anomaly in the UK jazz community. This is a band notable for their youth, but real knuckle-down players, not crooning heart-throbs; experimentally minded, but not regimented to the familiar squeal and squall of free jazz-inherited improvisation.
Instead, Polar Bear feel cast more in the mould of an experimental rock band – a fairly makeshift and mischievous five-man unit, bringing together drummer Sebastian Rochford and tenor saxophonist Pete Wareham (both also of the more fiery Acoustic Ladyland) alongside electronica head Leafcutter John, plus second tenor Mark Lockheart and Tom Herbert, also of The Invisible, on double bass. Peepers, the quintet’s fourth album, sees familiar jazz styles – bebop, cool jazz, free improv – exhumed, tampered with, and gleefully crossbred with little regard for tradition or idiom.
So, Happy For You marshalls perky beat-group guitars and jaunty saxophone, although Rochford’s skittering drums and sudden swells of percussion give things a constant sense of jazzy motion. Drunken Pharoah adopts a stumbling, stop-start rhythm, sometimes halting a half-beat as Leafcutter John conjures all kinds of collapsing electronic sounds out of the ether.
There is abrasion here, but usually it’s employed with a certain tongue-in-cheek – Scream opens with saxophones clucking like angry chickens, and ends 30 seconds later in a single shrill squeal. Just as common, though, are moments of disarming beauty. The Love Didn’t Go Anywhere is subtle and gorgeous, yearning sax lines and quiet whispers of percussion that recall Miles Davis at his more wistful.
This is the sort of patchwork, irreverent treatment to a genre that will see an outfit critically overlooked, or even maligned. Polar Bear, however, have already drummed up plaudits from such a wriggly approach – 2005’s Held on the Tips of Fingers, you will recall, was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize – and Peepers is every bit as good, talented musicians reworking the rulebook with hearts and minds at play. --Louis Pattison
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Artgooner
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just downloaded the new Peepers album and was again blown away by the sheer quality and breadth of this new album from Polar Bear...the range and quality of every track is fully up to all expectations and a pleasure to hear. I cannot recommend this latest offering enough to all music lovers, whether or not they consider themselves true jazz buffs or otherwise. If you get a chance to see this band live DO NOT MISS IT! Everything they do on record is even more impressive live if past experience is anything to go by. (I will be seeing them tomorrow night at Highbury and feel privilaged to get the chance!)
If in any doubt, don't hesitate! Download this album now or buy the CD as soon as possible and enjoy every moment!
PS: Just back from latest gig and happy to confirm this to be up to usual high standards!
If in any doubt, don't hesitate! Download this album now or buy the CD as soon as possible and enjoy every moment!
PS: Just back from latest gig and happy to confirm this to be up to usual high standards!
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By PRS
Format:Audio CD
I was lucky enough to get a promo of this album a few weeks ago and thought it was excellent.
I have all Polar Bear albums plus a few live recordings too and they always move me with their depth and beauty. This album is no exception with some really lovely tunes with great beats (Happy For You); some far out improvisation (with psychedelic overtones, e.g. Bump); interesting and experimental atmospheres, induced by electronica and sampling (Want to Belive Everything); and downright brilliant tune writing (the title track). I hope this album will push them more into mainstream consciousness and appreciation, I know they extend their influence beyond the Jazz world already but they deserve to have their music heard by lots more people.
I have all Polar Bear albums plus a few live recordings too and they always move me with their depth and beauty. This album is no exception with some really lovely tunes with great beats (Happy For You); some far out improvisation (with psychedelic overtones, e.g. Bump); interesting and experimental atmospheres, induced by electronica and sampling (Want to Belive Everything); and downright brilliant tune writing (the title track). I hope this album will push them more into mainstream consciousness and appreciation, I know they extend their influence beyond the Jazz world already but they deserve to have their music heard by lots more people.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By K. Eden
Format:Audio CD
Having bought their last album I was pleased to see that Polar Bear had a new album. Was I disappointed? Not at all! Suprised? A little. Some of it is almost pop. I say almost because that's where PB work best. What they create is not one thing or another. A true amalgam of styles and musical contexts.
It was only on third play round that the album truly hit home. And the last track? Well I think Robert Wyatt should be contacted and asked to write a vocal over it! Even better, how about a collaboration.
Buy it now and be suprised!
It was only on third play round that the album truly hit home. And the last track? Well I think Robert Wyatt should be contacted and asked to write a vocal over it! Even better, how about a collaboration.
Buy it now and be suprised!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
With "Peepers" I make my introduction to POLAR BEAR and, while I was listening to it, I thought inmediately in PORTICO QUARTET and MOSTLY OTHER PEOPLE DO THE KILLING: Pop-Jazz? The songs structures are simply, the tonality is common, and the track lenght is mainly short. However, all the innovation and space for freedom that Jazz has, it's here. In this sense, POLAR BEAR achieved in this CD at the same time, an easy lisening, but adeventurous too. I'm not tired of listening to it over and over again, the main evidence to say that this album is great. A great discovering.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Vaguely heard of these guys before, and had listened to some previews of this album. I am a big, but ill educated fan of many jazz genres. Looking to expand my horizons. This album sure does that! Chock full of some marvellous tunes with a real psychedelic/ambient jazz flavour. Right up my street. One of the best jazz albums I've listened to in a very long time. Highly recommended.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Fresh, fun, fantastic. Best Polar Bear album so far.
Note for the Polar Bear virgins out there: its not rock; its not jazz really, but it is more that than anything; its just fun and clever, raw, acoustic, small-venue music.
Leafcutter John's contribution is subtle but valuable.
Note for the Polar Bear virgins out there: its not rock; its not jazz really, but it is more that than anything; its just fun and clever, raw, acoustic, small-venue music.
Leafcutter John's contribution is subtle but valuable.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having recently bought the new A ndy sheppard albumTrio Libero i decided to lopk back in my collection to this album,because the excellent Seb Rochford features on both albums,This is adventurous jazz with overtones of Evan Parker and various other forms as well,there is melody in abundance he re,although
it id difficult to categorize w hat market this is aimed at,the music is xperimental,and hugely likeable,again i am reminded of Perfect houseplants as well.
PETE WAREHAM.....TENOR SAX
MARK LOCKHEART.....TENOR SAX
TOM HERBERT.....DOUBLE BASS
LEAFCUTTER JOHN.....ELECTRONICS,GUITARS
SEBASTIAN ROCHFORD.....DROMS
it id difficult to categorize w hat market this is aimed at,the music is xperimental,and hugely likeable,again i am reminded of Perfect houseplants as well.
PETE WAREHAM.....TENOR SAX
MARK LOCKHEART.....TENOR SAX
TOM HERBERT.....DOUBLE BASS
LEAFCUTTER JOHN.....ELECTRONICS,GUITARS
SEBASTIAN ROCHFORD.....DROMS
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Clarence
Format:Audio CD
A jazz band, with ice cool cuts, called Polar Bear - need I say
more? Well yes, I will...The tunes are pretty laid back jazzy affairs, heavy on the sax but with a funky feel...maybe a bit too experimental for my tastes...a trumpet in there somewhere might have helped to lighten the melodies...I do love a good trumpet- but all in all music to thaw out your paws after a long winter.
more? Well yes, I will...The tunes are pretty laid back jazzy affairs, heavy on the sax but with a funky feel...maybe a bit too experimental for my tastes...a trumpet in there somewhere might have helped to lighten the melodies...I do love a good trumpet- but all in all music to thaw out your paws after a long winter.
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