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With the recent rise of the “Web 2.0” era, an entire new age of collaborative thinkers and innovators has taken hold of many facets of our culture. “Open-sourcing” and “wiki” systems have become a global phenomenon, allowing unlimited numbers of people to take part in creating some of the best collaborative projects and products around. The seemingly endless success of such projects has undoubtedly started people wondering just how far this can all go. If open-sourcing can work for encyclopedias and software, could it work for just about anything else?

Nottingham’s POLYMATH is looking to find out, having launched one of the world’s first openly collaborative music groups. According to the band’s website, the lyrical content of their music is drawn directly from various print mediums: magazines, books, newspapers, etc., and contributions are openly accepted from fans in the form of artwork, video, poetry, and ideas in general. All of this collaborative effort is merged with the band’s dynamic musical style, self-described as a fusion of “organic and mechanic,” all of which add up to make the final identity of Polymath. And the best part is, it’s ultimately the fans that get to decide where the group’s vision will focus itself next.

You heard it right, Polymath is open-sourcing their band.

“Sounds great,” you say, “but does it actually work?”

Give their debut EP a listen and you’ll undoubtedly find the answer to be a resounding “Yes.” In just the short time span of this three-song EP, Polymath establishes an impressively strong foundation for their sound. An artistic blend of modern rock, industrial, and alternative styles, the release is sure to capture the attention of just about anyone interested in great music. Catchy hooks, melodic riffs and a unique array of vocal styles keep the material fresh and interesting through every moment, and at the end of it all we can only wish there was more of this stuff to enjoy.

With time and ongoing collaboration, it seems likely that Polymath will only continue to get better in the coming years. Their unique and highly innovative approach to creating music is undoubtedly worthy of praise and attention, and should hopefully contribute to them becoming an icon of modern underground music. Of course, their success will partly depend on your input, so don’t hesitate to get involved by visiting the band’s website: http://www.polymathematics.co.uk.

The debut EP can also be downloaded for free from Amok Recordings: http://www.amokrecordings.com/map/2.0/polymathep.html

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Reviewer: Sean B Added: March 5th 2008