The Polar Exploration Ship

The POLAR Exploration Ship combines warm steaming 70s rock with the cold alternative sound of the 90s. The exciting result of this mix can be heard on their debut CD, The White Hour, to be released in March 2009. Based at The Hague (the Netherlands), the band was set up in 2004 by Selwyn Slop, ex-lead singer and guitarist of the emo-core band Incense. Inspired by such diverse acts as Sonic Youth, The Allman Brothers Band, Motorpsycho, Yes and Dinosaur Jr, Slop joined forces with musicians from very different backgrounds: Fender Rhodes and organ player Peter van der Meer (ex-Mashed Potatoes)...

Based at The Hague (the Netherlands), the band was set up in 2004 by Selwyn Slop, ex-lead singer and guitarist of the emo-core band Incense. Inspired by such diverse acts as Sonic Youth, The Allman Brothers Band, Motorpsycho, Yes and Dinosaur Jr, Slop joined forces with musicians from very different backgrounds: Fender Rhodes and organ player Peter van der Meer (ex-Mashed Potatoes), Mark Bubberman (ex-Kinkster) on bass, slide-guitarist Willem Mulock and Lennart Bess (ex-Burma Shave) on drums, banjo and pedal steel guitar.

The POLAR Exploration Ship began playing live in 2005 and released an EP that received positive reviews in the Dutch national media. Throughout 2006 and 2007, the band did numerous club gigs and also played in Germany, on ?Radio 3 voor 12' (Club Lek) and at the Ahoy' stadium as support act.

Both summers saw the band performing at several festivals, including Koninginnenach as headliner, Metropolis, De Beschaving, Binnenach, EX-IS and Werfpop. It also toured the Netherlands as one of the most popular acts of the travelling Popronde festival. In 2007, Mulock left the band due to musical differences, to be succeeded by ex-Venus Flytrap guitarist Gijsbert Diteweg.

In 2008, The POLAR Exploration Ship finished its first album, The White Hour, produced by Mouse (who worked for Keith Caputo, among many others). Released by V2 Records March 30th 2009.