Tunes Consumed: the Poutine Silver Platter

Well, that 23-piece theremin-playing, flautistic, guitaring, beatsy-tromboning, keying, dancing & harmonizing symphonic mini-orchestra The Polyphonic Spree have their latest LP The Fragile Army launching in just under a week now, and I’m actually a little giddy about it.

This gang/small army is one in particular I have a hard time explaining to anyone. I suppose because much of their music is new age happy-go-lucky gospel with a quirky unexplainable passion; it strikes some people as just plain odd. Truthfully, the appeal to me is one of curiosity. Like a estranged anthropologist I look towards these people and wonder. That this energy can stem from somewhere other than the Almighty is a curious phenomenon to be sure, especially considering their performances are as awkwardly infectious as any Southern passion.

The Fragile Army is more political in nature than previous works, following in step essentially where Soldier Girl left off: in the heart of current wartime turmoil. DeLaughter claims “it’s very specific in its agenda, [and] I believe it’s our own battle cry.” What that agenda is, you’ll have to find out for yourselves.

The album hits shelves June 19th on TVT Records - in the meantime you can still pre-order your own copy direct from the Spree website in 1 of 4 merch-package deals.

mp3:
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 24 (The Fragile Army)
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 27 (Mental Cabaret)