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Institut Polaire
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Institut Polaire
Genre: Indie, Pop
Region: Perth, WA
Members: Erik Hecht - vocals and guitar, Dr. David Thirkettle Watts - bass, Ben Blakeney - guitar, Cath Colvin - violin, Sam Wass - guitar and keys and vocals, Elliott Brannen - trumpet and keys and vocals, Russ Loasby - drums
Influences: lee hazlewood, Velvet Underground, Decemberists

Unearthed Artists We Like: Petanque , Faith in Plastics , The Burton Cool Suit


Formed as a three piece in 2004 by an American ex-pat, an English born doctor and a country boy moved to the big city, Perth based band Institut Polaire were destined from the start to have a dizzying array of influences. With a palette of sounds ranging from country tinged psychedelia to 60's soundtracks, bubblegum pop to kraut-rock, Institut Polaire are musically schizophrenic; taking little pieces of each genre to create a special blend of their own. Pulling off these ambitious layered wall-of-sound aspirations does take a lot of sonic firepower. As a result, Institut Polaire has grown from humble three piece roots into a full-blown collective who currently number between 7 and 9 members toting everything from vintage Wurlitzer pianos to violins, banjos, trumpets, Powerbooks and glockenspiels.

The past twelve months have been exciting times for the collective which have found them supporting acclaimed artists such as Architecture in Helsinki, Jens Lekman, Lou Barlow, Gerling, Starky, The Panics and The Lucksmiths.

Institut Polaires debut 7" single "City Walls and Empires" (out now through Love Is My Velocity Records) recently won them the Western Australian Music Industry's prestigious "Song of the Year" Award for 2006 and has received airplay on stations right around the nation.

Institut Polaire are currently working hard on their debut LP "The Fauna & Flora Are Too Closely Allied" which is due in early 2007 with national tour dates to follow.

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Played on triple j City Walls and Empires
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City Walls and Empires
rating:  5/5
Great track. Well produced and well thought through. Each instrument has it's place in this well-crafted piece. Trumpets, guitar, piano, drums, every...
superuser



City Walls and Empires
rating:  5/5
Good use of brass/trumpet and good catchy vibe..I rather like the guitar sounds and the blending of the many instruments especially the subtle piano ...
superuser



City Walls and Empires
rating:  4/5
A bright and cheery pop tune with some nice trumpets in the background. The members are all very talented and the music is very well recorded and pro...
superuser



City Walls and Empires
rating:  5/5
Genius song writing. Can't wait for an album from these guys!
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This project is supported by the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, through its Music Board Section.