The Polyphonic Spree

After Tim DeLaughter's band Tripping Daisy ended with the tragic death of Wes Berggren in 1999, he reunited the remaining members along with 20 or so new ones into the sweet-harmonied, psychedelic, choral daydream that is the Polyphonic Spree. Looking like a happy clappy religious cult in their trademark robes, the ever-changing line-up has swelled up to 27 members, including a harpist, flautist, French horn player and a large choir. Support slots with Grandaddy led to a place at David Bowie's 2002 Meltdown Festival and when their track Light and Day was used for a Volkswagen and ipod commercial, word soon spread. Debut album The Beginning Stages Of... (2002) was full of euphoric pop with Soldier Girl becoming a small radio hit and the band was a ubiquitous presence on the festival circuit. Despite generally positive reviews, follow-up album Together We're Heavy (2004) was judged second worst album of the year by Entertainment Weekly, but the band bounced back minus the robes and with a darker sound on The Fragile Army (2007).

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