The Polyphonic Spree - London Barfly @ Monarch - 11/7/02
4/5
By: Toby L
Sometimes, life can get a bit much. When particularly stressed out, one may find that the oh-so defined borders between reality and fiction stay crystal clear - yet, as experience continually teaches us, you must be prepared for unusual signs, strange occurrences, things that you're not used to viewing...
The Polyphonic Spree are just these: a confusing proposition, consisting of 24 Texans that play psychedelic, feel-good ambient-pop, the members simultaneously dressed in bright, white robes. And seeing them crouched in various areas of the minuscule London Monarch stage, preaching their musical-gospel via a plethora of horns, strings, guitars, percussive-tools and a choir, could just be the most surreal thing you see all year. Yet also the most thrilling.
By fusing the, admittedly, gimmicky variety of characters on display - all undoubtedly sincere within what they're doing, however - with the colossal melodic charm of Mercury Rev, the Lips, The Beach Boys and any other such refreshingly jilted melody-combo from the States, the Spree have created one of the most euphoric and devastatingly overpowering rushes of sound to exist since Mogwai first cranked up their amps with a thirst to explode ears. Continually uplifting, they wave their arms like hyped-up Hare Krishna's, and prompt the audience to become even more a part of the experience, with ring-leader Tim DeLaughter on vocals declaring throughout, 'Come on,' and, 'Get ready,' prior to every explosive combustion of guitars, booming drums and soaring choral-parts.
And, naturally, the crowd responds quite uncontrollably, throwing hands aloft, singing along communally and clapping as if their lives depended on it. By the time the 'group' storms through beyond half an hour of their various 'sections' - they're beyond mere songs, you know - the scene is that of utter delirium, a religious experience without any of the stringent restrictions that such events usually entail, and a triumphant DeLaughter delivering a moving 'cheers' for all of the support that the band have been offered after their first few weeks in the UK.
But, where next? To say that The Polyphonic Spree are going to be huge certainly isn't right - they're already that, quite literally. Whatever, they're certainly on the right track to becoming a vintage act, their dazzling compositions more than ample enough to back up the meaty image, and their sparkling delivery comprising everything and more which denotes a classic ensemble: originality, eccentricity - and a genuine love of what's being produced.
The conclusion, then? Believe - and embrace them in the same way they have embraced us.
Artists in this article: The Polyphonic Spree
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