Institut Polaire – The Flora and the Fauna
Review by Danielle Hanrahan
Perth’s indie wonderkids, Institut Polaire have released their debut ep “The Flora and the Fauna” out through Popfrenzy bringing the heavy instrumentation and catchy-pop, soulful lyrics to a crossroads of something a little country, a little folk and a whole lot of something we wish there was more of.
The WAM Song of the Year winners from last year have delivered a five-piece compilation of songs which has married the textured layers of the instruments, the lyrics and the voice of Eric Hecht to new heights. Produced by Rob Grant and including contributions from Jim Colvin on saxophone, Melanie Price on trombone and Monique Archer in the role of soprano vocals, adds another layer to the vast instrumentation of the permanent members of the group – a sound aspect to the band that has set them apart from their contemporaries.
The title song, “The Fauna and the Flora Are Too Closely Allied” is one of those songs that if you haven’t been convinced from the outset of listening to this band, this song will soon change all of that. It marries the violin from Colvin and the trumpet from Brannen exclusively with that of Eric Hecht’s smooth tone to give the listener a graceful, and pop-styled melody – a song that will be hard to forget.
The body of work on the ep shows a vast range of instruments, melodies and song structures, which the group can call on to deliver a resounding and unmistakable sound. Each song delivers in equal measure to the listening pleasure of the package and brings an unforgettable end, in the song that many will recognize Institut Polaire for – “City Walls and Empires”.
Institut Polaire have come a long way with only a few releases, but have made a deep and resounding impression on Perth and Australian audiences who have seen them live or heard their material, making ‘The Fauna and the Flora Are Too Closely Alllied’ an essential addition to anyone’s music list.
PerthSounds.com 