a few years back (2002 !!) i picked up the reissued edition of the debut album, the beginning stages of .. by the polyphonic spree.
the large robe wearing choir + band ensemble led by tripping daisy hero, tim delaughter.
their reach for the sun symphonic pop music hit the spot perfectly. while there were some sonic connections with other bands doing the orchestral thing at the time, tims songs never felt indulgent.
the songs celebrated life, earth, and love.
hippy bollocks maybe, but the soundtrack was so engaging, i quickly became a fan.
i picked up the following albums, together we’re heavy (2004), and the fragile army (2007), in the slim hope that one day the band would return to the uk and make it possible for me to see this set up live.
however, the reality became all too clear that the bands time had passed, reviews were middling, and transporting a 30+ crew to some small venues scattered around the uk would be financial suicide.
fast forward to 2013 and the release of the line up for the one ireallylovemusic excursion of the year : camp bestival.
there amongst the list of bands of varying interest, was the polyphonic spree.
i literally got shivers up my spine. it was going to happen.
then i read further : the band were to appear twice, once performing their take on the rocky horror picture show, and then again, performing their own catalogue.
not only that, there was to be a new album, appropriately called, yes, it’s true a few weeks after the festival.
and so, with all that build up and expectation, how did it all go ?
the sunday afternoon performance of the rocky horror was camp excess, funny, a little naughty, and down right brilliant fun. then a few hours later, they took to a different stage and ripped through many of their classics.
yes, tim has cut back on the numbers in the band, the ensemble is a tight crew now, but the noise they make is just as massive as ever.
for the first time in a long while i wept tears of joy. the whole situation was literally a dream coming true before my eyes.
i return to reality, picked up the cd edition of the rocky horror live show that they had released, and then awaited the announcement re the new album.
as many bands do these days, there were to be limited edition fan packages. i ordered the cd/t-shirt/download and waited for release day when i would get the digital version to be followed by the fan treats some time later.
well, that was the plan.
what actually happened was that the digital link appeared at the stroke of midnight of the release day, and i started listening to the album on a constant loop, but as people who follow my groove know, i do like to have the silver disc as well.
i waited. i waited. and waited.
a few weeks went by, and my order had not progressed.
i emailed the folks involved. heard nothing.
waited. emailed. etc.
this went on for quite a while to say the least.
i received apologies from people close to the band, but still, i was unable to wear the colours with pride, or read the sleeve notes.
and then the magic happened.
many months after i placed the order, i received a refund and a note that i would be getting some extra treats to compensate for the trouble.
i was sent a gorgeous limited print of a poster the band printed (number 246 of 250), signed by the whole crew, which given i have been given a refund would have sufficed and made me a happy man, however, the spree clearly like to do things a little differently.
on the final day of 2013 there was a knock on the door, and a large box was handed to me.
inside was a signed copy of the coloured vinyl edition, the all important cd version, and lastly, my own polyphonic spree robe.
oh, and while all that was going on, i chanced upon their xmas album which comes packaged with a live dvd of one of the 2013 uk shows.
i think it’s fair to say, that one band dominated 2013 for me more than any other :
one all new album, one double live cd, one festive season album, one live dvd, and of course, 2 shows.
bloody good job the new album is as fantastic as it is, but then i would say that.
more detail : here