the polar exploration ship

Foto: Jolanda van Wijhe
 
Biography The POLAR Exploration Ship plays alternative southern rock. Based at The Hague (the Netherlands) and consisting of five members from very different musical backgrounds, the band combines the warm steaming 70's sounds of America's rural deep south and sunny west coast with the cold and desolate urban noises of the 90's. It's hailing from cotton mills, corn fields and swampy river deltas, but sailing toward icebergs, northern... Meer »

Foto: Jolanda van Wijhe
 
Biography The POLAR Exploration Ship plays alternative southern rock. Based at The Hague (the Netherlands) and consisting of five members from very different musical backgrounds, the band combines the warm steaming 70's sounds of America's rural deep south and sunny west coast with the cold and desolate urban noises of the 90's. It's hailing from cotton mills, corn fields and swampy river deltas, but sailing toward icebergs, northern lights and howling snowstorms. The band was first set up in the Spring of 2004 by Selwyn Slop, at that time lead singer and guitarist of the Dutch emo-core band Incense. Looking for a possibility to play rather poppy, melodic songs that did not suit his main band, Slop started working together with bass player Misja van den Burg under the name of The Leaves. Soon after, they asked Lennart Bess (also playing in Burma Shave) to join them with his drums as well as his banjo and lap steel guitar. Things suddenly took a more serious twist when in the Summer of 2004 Incense decided to split up. With song-writing Slop ready to devote all his time to the new band, rehearsing became more intensive. It was decided that the sound had to be bigger and the name should be more original. At the turn of 2005, the group was baptised The POLAR Exploration Ship and two new members were welcomed aboard: keyboard player and vocalist Peter van der Meer (also in The Mashed Potatoes) and local slide-guitar legend Willem Mulock. Winter 2005 sees the band working hard to build up a repertoire. So far, songs range from Allman Brothers-style tornadoes to quiet country-folk to Dinosaur Jr-like hard pop. Plans for the Spring are demo recording sessions and a few try-out gigs. The POLAR Exploration Ship has set its course and is determined to cross any frozen sea it may encounter. « Minder