Kelley Polar

Mike Kelley and company have been longtime staples on the highly successful Metro Area series of records, and with the able assistance of Metro Area/Environ figurehead Morgan Geist, the Kelley Polar Quartet steps out on its own with this debut EP. The group retains much of the bounce and swagger of the Metro Area records, and the song structures keep in unison with the Metro Area formula. But what differs here is that more attention is placed on the string arrangements than in the past. The group branches out into different tonal territories than just being a backing string band, and nowhere is this more evident than in the last two cuts, which are more reminiscent of East Asian/Indian melodies than traditional disco fare. A highly funky, easily accessible, and most impressive debut -- and another winning notch in the amazing streak of releases from Environ. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide