Their sixth album and the follow-up to last year's Mercury Prize-shortlisted In Each And Every One, Same As You finds Polar Bear, on initial plays at least, in slow burn mode.
Yet, at the same time, this might be the quintet's most accessible music to date. The six tracks are conceived as a whole and begin with the spoken word of Life, Love And Light, delivered with compelling, preacher-like assurance by special guest Asar Mikael (a character from Aberdeen-born drummer and bandleader Sebastian Rochford's Tottenham neighbourhood) and leading into music where the saxophones almost become part of the rhythm section with their percussive patterns and considered development of simple themes. As ever, Rochford is the most musical of guides and his playing under the insistent vocal chanting of Don't Let The Feeling Go and on the long, closing Unrelenting Unconditional, with its meditative quality, lends a shape and a sense of enquiry that emphasises the album's quietly optimistic and deeply felt message of spirituality.
Rob Adams
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