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Polyphonics Dropped

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? by Andrew Future
Artists: The Polyphonic Spree
Words: Andrew Future
Posted: 28 Aug '03, 13:20
The Polyphonic Spree's deal with 679 Recordings has not been renewed, meaning the band are effectively 'dropped'.

Having signed with the Warner's offshoot (the same label as The Streets), the 23 piece choral pop band enjoyed huge major-label plugging, getting fantastic support in the press and on television. NME took them on tour in January, and festival appearances included Glastonbury and a headline slot in the Radio 1 tent at Reading/Leeds.

However, it would appear that they just didn't sell enough records to recoup the expenditure. A spokeperson for the band commented: "It is not their job to sell records, it is their job to record and tour them."

The debut album, 'The Beginning Stages Of...' was recently remastered and repackaged with a tacky bag (DVD), however, as pretty as the songs can be, they still lacked any real replay value.

The band have completed their next album, which they expect to release in February.

DIScuss: Could The Polyphonic Spree have possibly enjoyed a higher level of media exposure over the last year? (Hint: the answer's no!)

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Polyphonics Dropped

so how about their Hollywood Records/Buena Vista/Disney deal then? itt's not like they're out on the streets, they could come and live at my house anyway

(http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/7282.html)

ollie.
ollie | 28 Aug '03, 13:42 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Polyphonics Dropped

yeah, i thought they had some massive disney multi media thing going on.

always seemed financially dubious to me
alcxxk | 28 Aug '03, 15:03 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Polyphonics Dropped

First, Tripping Daisy. Now this. We'll see what the future holds. But it seems that Tim Delaughter has some kind of a "beautiful loser spell" going on around him...
jaxxalude | 3 Sep '03, 22:20 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Polyphonics Dropped

"i thought they had some massive disney multi media thing going on."

they do.
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 3 Sep '03, 22:21 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Polyphonics Dropped

Reminds me of 'My life story', remember them? They came back after sacking most their band. And still flopped.
The spree have always came across to me as fun one off kind of band, nothing great or special.
STUMBELEINE01 | 28 Aug '03, 14:39 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Polyphonics Dropped

The 'Spree always seemed a little bit of style over content to me. I thought they were great fun and a fantastically good idea but their songs never stood out much. Soldier Girl had to be farted about with no-end to turn what was basically a chorus into a 3minute pop tune.

The longevity of the band seemed limited in terms of what they produced in terms of an album. That said it doesn't mean their second album won't be fantastic. Many great bands have had rubbish first outings. Of course, I can't think of any first hand but if you take someone like Chris TT who's albums just get better and better (Mercury Prize winner '04 - I have money on it) it takes time for some great artists to build their reputation and develop their art. Maybe the spree were signed for the concept but their true greatness will still prevaile despite the set back?
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 1 Sep '03, 02:34 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Polyphonics Dropped

'It is not their job to sell records, it is their job to record them and tour'

What faff. It is exactly their job to sell records. Nothing else. Hence why they were given a deal and an advance. Bands need to wake up and smell the shit for things to get any better.

We'll see them back at the Camden Underworld in no time, then.
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 28 Aug '03, 18:53 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Polyphonics Dropped

Dunno 'bout that. The problem with having twenty three members is that you get the same amount of advance as a band with three members... i.e. even when you're signed you're still basically destitute... also the costs of touring, hotels, transport... I've seen the Polyphonics a few times, the second time I got to hang out wih them a bit... and even with all that hype and exposure the money pressures on each member were ridiculous... they were no better off than being on the dole, but these are thirty-something musicians, who have grown up ties and responsibilities...and they're great and chaotic and wonderful, but I think it was always a bit of a dream that wasn't going to last...shit... in order to keep going and not all be poor they'd have had to sell a million records... a steep demand for a relatively left field band. Maybe it should have only ever been the sort of act assembled to do one-off gigs, with the core writers forming a smaller more commercially viable band. I am sad that the dream is floundering :-(
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 30 Aug '03, 00:16 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Polyphonics Dropped

Reindeer Section for instance, tho they had thier little bands before the big one, but on the same model lines

anyway, as i said before, their Disney deal isn't part of this 'drop' so they've still got that, even if it means packing up and sitting back untill it kicks in properly

ollie.
ollie | 30 Aug '03, 00:22 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Polyphonics Dropped

"We'll see them back at the Camden Underworld in no time, then."


good. that was a GREAT gig...
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 30 Aug '03, 02:12 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Polyphonics Dropped

I just saw an add for these dudes on the TV, are you like huge acid tripping dudes or it just really seems like it. And if you haven't tripped you poly guys need to.
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 31 Jan '04, 20:18 | Send note | Report this | Reply