The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning stages of ...

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating * * * *)

Some bands attract a cult following - the Polyphonic Spree look like one. After all, they are from Texas and their 23 (yes, 23) members are given to wearing white cassocks while delivering a line in exultant DIY symphonic pop. The nine tracks (plus a 10th, A Long Day, a half-hour of studio-twiddled vocal harmonies: "Aaaaah . . .") initially suggest they could fit right in on Queen St on a Friday night, handing out pamphlets in between another clap'n'singalong number.


But it's soon easy to discern something attractively off-kilter going on, care of the adenoid lead vocals of TPS' prime mover, Tim DeLaughter (formerly of mid-90s American alt-rock also-rans Tripping Daisy). Especially as it winds from the cello and piano intro of opener Have a Day/Celebratory into a solar flare of a chorus; when It's the Sun goes from its Eleanor Rigby strings to its Good Vibrations harmonies complete with theremin and timpani; when La La breaks out the trombones and surf-rock backbeat; or when Soldier Girl suggests a great lost song by the Pixies done pizzicatto.


All told, it's a wacky pop delight - and those of the Flaming-Lips-album-of-the-year persuasion needing a fix of something of similarly giddy ilk should head this way.

Label: (Good/Warner)