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Polar Bear by Polar Bear

Polar Bear

Polar Bear

Release Date: Jul 28, 2008

Genre(s): Jazz

Record label: Tin Angel

60

Music Critic Score

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Album Review: Polar Bear by Polar Bear

Fairly Good, Based on 2 Critics

The Guardian - 80
Based on rating 4/5

Seb Rochford's Polar Bear named themselves after an animal that can seem cuddly, intimidating and fascinating - adjectives also appropriate for their brilliant third album. The quintet's attractive melding of contemporary jazz with indie, electronica and avant-garde abrasiveness can sound surprisingly delicate. Tomlovesalicelovestom has a light pulse that never sounds trite; Brian features contrapuntal saxophones that seem to come from a swinging parallel universe; Appears, Moves and Sails reassembles jazz and funk like postmodern kit furniture; Tay's tasty reverberation becomes part of the tune.

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Observer Music Monthly - 40
Based on rating 2/5

The third album by Polar Bear suggests that this is a band running out of ideas. Two tenor saxophonists (however talented) gradually assume a rather monochrome quality and even Seb Rochford's imaginative drum playing cannot compensate – a point tacitly acknowledged by the introduction of Leafcutter John on sundry noise-making. Good in small doses.

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