Rising from Brighton, United Kingdom, the genre-bending quintet Polar Sun (formerly known as Porshyne) self-release their new album Wax / Wane, which presents a mix of styles from electronic and Jazz to post-Rock and Math Rock. 

While certain aspects of the album could have benefited from a more polished production, the mix’s rawness definitely has its own charm to offer. The sense of realism it brings to the table allows a full listen-through to feel like a private concert, even with all its additional bells and whistles. The eclectic experimentation with various sounds could entrance even the shortest of attention spans – every moment feels fresh and new, yet cohesive and calculated with each quirky effect discovering wider potentials in different contexts. 

“Youth” abruptly begins the album with a brewing cascade of notes that have you shaking with anticipation right off the bat. The contrasting mellow energy that comes and goes throughout the track makes each return of the riff all the more impactful, pulling you to the edge of your seat before even getting through the first song. 

Following track “Gangrene” continues the imminence with an arpeggiating synth backed by ominous volume swells and ambience, looming like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment. When the climax finally hits, a whopping sax solo breaks in suddenly over the thundering guitars and drums, making the preceding build-up more than worth getting through. 

Polar Sun continues to show off their wide-range virtuosity from the sleek fingerpicked guitars and trickling percussion of “Listen”, to the heavy distortion and pounding beats of “Wax”. The drop into the latter’s final breakdown may be one of the most satisfying moments on the record—as soon as the instruments come to an abrupt halt with the sustained vocal harmonies towering over, something crazy is about to go down. The track’s main riff returns, but this time it’s more chaotic, with sharp stops and dissonance added in. This makes the following soft interlude track feel like the dreary aftermath to an uproarious storm. 

“Wane” ends the album beautifully, unleashing the band’s soft and heavy sides once more, but this time at full force. The colossal instrumentals break through like a hurricane with frontman Fergal Lyden belting his heart out. The final minute simmers down into a light yet eerie string section, closing the curtains of a brilliantly diverse record.

With Wax / Wane, Polar Sun does an outstanding job at maintaining their own distinct sound, while constantly throwing in new elements and effects to keep listeners on their toes. Although eight tracks may not seem like much, the numerous contrasting styles and dynamics they blend together make it feel like more.

Buy the album here:
https://polarson.bandcamp.com/album/wax-wane

9 / 10
COLLEEN KANOWSKY