Polar Bear (album)

Polar Bear is the eponymous third album by Sebastian Rochford's British jazz band Polar Bear.

Polar Bear
Studio album by Polar Bear
Released	1 September 2008
Studio	Miloco Pool Studio
Genre	Jazz
Length	72:00
Label	Tin Angel and The Leaf Label
Producer	Sebastian Rochford and Mark Rankin
Polar Bear chronology
Held On The Tips Of Fingers (2005) Polar Bear (2008) Peepers (2010)

Background

The band spent " a lot of time" recording Polar Bear, Seb Rochford stating that he wanted the album "to have the saxes not so much soloing, but more interacting with (Leafcutter) John, and it took a while for everyone to get their heads round improvising in that way".[1]

The album was initially released on Tin Angel in 2008, but was re-issued by The Leaf Label in 2014.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	72/100[3]
Review scores
Source	Rating
BBC	Positive[4]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[5]
The Guardian	[6]
The Observer	[7]

On the Metacritic website, which aggregates reviews from critics and assigns a normalised rating out of 100, Peepers received a score of 72, based on 1 mixed and 3 positive reviews.[3] Drowned In Sound praised the album's "seamless motion and playful interplay" and "sheer musical pleasure", awarding it 8/10.[5] The BBC called it a "triumph" in their review, calling Polar Bear "a fine record".[4] The Guardian write that Rochford is a "proper jazz composer, whose themes are spare, colourful and strong enough to frame and support extensive improvisation from his talented crew and guests" and call the album "brilliant".[6] The Observer are less impressed, writing that "this is a band running out of ideas", calling Polar Bear "good in small doses".[7] Ultimately, the album did not receive the same press as the previous album, Held On The Tips Of Fingers, which had gained extra media attention after being shortlisted for a Mercury Music Prize.

Track listing

All music is composed by Rochford, except 4 & 13 by Rochford, Lockheart, Wareham, Burton & Herbert and 11 by Rochford, Burton, Herbert & Laubrook.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tay"	4:48
2.	"Goodbye"	7:59
3.	"Appears, Moves and Sails"	6:31
4.	"Tomlovesalicelovestom"	6:02
5.	"Voices"	5:53
6.	"Industry"	3:39
7.	"Brian"	7:06
8.	"Sunshine"	4:42
9.	"Leafcup"	8:11
10.	"It Snows Again"	5:00
11.	"Sounds Like a Train to Me"	2:39
12.	"I Am Alive"	4:55
13.	"Woollen Blanket"	2:14
14.	"Joy Jones"	5:28

Personnel

Polar Bear

• Pete Wareham – tenor saxophone
• Mark Lockheart – tenor saxophone
• Sebastian Rochford – drums, bass (13)
• Tom Herbert – double bass, drums (13)
• Leafcutter John – electronics, mandolin, kalimba, glass, bowed cymbal, samples and balloon

Additional musicians

• Julia Biel – vocals (7 and 8)
• Ben Davis – cello (8)
• Amanda Drummond – viola (12)
• Brian Edwards – tenor saxophone (7)
• Ingrid Laubrock – tenor saxophone (11)

References

1. Gibb, Rory (15 December 2010). "DiS Meets Polar Bear's Seb Rochford". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
2. "Polar Bear Album Reissues". The Leaf Label. December 8, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
3. "Polar Bear by Polar Bear". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
4. "Polar Bear, Polar Bear: Review". BBC Music. July 14, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
5. "Polar Bear, Polar Bear". Drowned In Sound. July 27, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
6. Walters, John L (11 July 2008). "Polar Bear, Polar Bear". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
7. Nicholson, Stuart (10 August 2008). "Jazz review: Polar Bear, Polar Bear". The Observer. Retrieved 28 May 2015.