Polar

Based in Gainesville, FL, and mostly known by the shoegazer/dream pop underground that persisted long after tastemakers declared said scene supposedly dead, Polar maintained a fitful but at times quite worthy existence during the 1990s. Originally growing out of the musical partnership between guitarist Ed Ballinger and singer Kristy Moss, Polar first came into regular being in 1993, with bassist Bryan Hoben and drummer Chuck Horne fleshing out the initial lineup. Guitarist Chris Pierce joined the group shortly thereafter via a work connection with Ballinger and the group tried to eke out a steady place in a generally indifferent local scene, far more aimed to flat-out punk and hardcore than Polar's own high volume feedback waves. The band broke up after lingering internal conflict, with Pierce moving out of town and the rest pursuing other projects. Pierce's return to Gainesville a couple of years later led to Polar's reactivation, now incorporating a quieter, more restrained musical balance incorporating everything from drum machines (due to Horne's relocation to Seattle) to orchestral keyboards and arrangements. The result was two lengthily titled releases, the 1998 collection of home recordings Lies Set by the Polar Mob and, later that year, the full album A Future History of the Frigid Polar Night. Polar finally called it quits after a series of further disagreements, with core members Moss and Ballinger continuing with a new effort, Con Dolore. ~ Ned Raggett, Rovi...

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