Poly-Math – Something Deeply Hidden (The Lasers Edge) – Are the Brighton-based band on to their fifth album already? I guess time, space and the emergence of spacetime are all flying by, oh the joy of the quantum mechanics of it all. The instrumental prog band have been quietly building (and indeed been quietly championed around these parts since their early days) and here on Something Deeply Hidden, whilst remaining very much distinctly Poly-Math, they’re progressing yet again. Seven spectacular pieces of deliciously complex yet very easy on the ear (almost effortless) music that once again blends that almost seamless mix of Ethio-Jazz, classic Prog, Math-Rock and Post-Rock that they’ve always delivered with all that angular energy and commitment they’ve had almost since day one. yes I know music like this takes a lot of effort, the results do feel wonderfully effortless though, deliciously ear-friendly.
Poly-Math have always done it their own way, they’ve always made their own shapes, mostly obtuse ones (they’ve always thrown great shapes on stage as well) and if it is Post Rock flavoured then we’re certainly not talking the polite rule-obeying blueprint-following snooze fest that most Post Rock tends to be these days. This latest album, whilst being very (very) much Poly-Math, sounds like they’ve taken their thing to slightly different places, taken it deeper into something that at times feels fusion flavoured jazz rock, into something that certainly feels like (properly proper) prog rock and even, now and again, 70s flavoured blues experimentation. This goes forward into (even more experimental) areas whilst still being very accessible and as easy to listen to as they always are. Hard-boiled and experimental yes, always fluid though, always an easy listen, easy to just go with and enjoy. Strong hints of King Crimson in there with the hints of Battles, touches of Rush, maybe even early IQ along with the maths and the flow of the angles and all of it without ever sounding anything like any of the bands just name-dropped.
Something Deeply Hidden is an excellent, album, it is tempting to say straight away, after just these first few on repeat listens, that it is their best, it probably is? We should probably let the dust settle on the thrill of it all before finally making such bold statements though (all their albums are good!). And yes, I did say thrilling early in this pieces, this is thrilling music, it is full of Poly-Math energy, alive with that musical commitment, that forward moving instrumental drive Poly-Math have always had, that sound that for once really does not need vocals.
Do things seems a touch more subtle now, a few more colours added to their already rewarding palette maybe? A little more expansive, dare we say a little more progressive? As focussed on complex instrumentation and abstract poly-rhythms as ever, maybe a touch more expansive, a little more diverse, not quite as heavy? Probably is the Brighton band’s best album, certainly as good as any of the fine fine albums they’ve made. The album title and track names are inspired by American theoretical physicist, Sean M. Carroll’s book on Quantum Mechanics, Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime, but you probably already knew that. Another excellent Poly-Math album (sw)
Bandcamp / www.poly-math.net / www.lasercd.com
Previously…
Poly-Math will support Something Deeply Hidden with tour dates scattered across the UK and Europe beginning the day of the album’s release, April 10th, running through May 23rd. All current dates are listed below, and additional live excursions are to be expected. During the tour, Poly-Math will also include additional percussionist, Sam Simpson of Memory of Elephants, to better portray the tracks on the new album.
Poly-Math Something Deeply Hidden UK & European Tour 2026:
10/4/2026 Le Pub – Newport, UK
11/4/2026 The Flapper – Birmingham, UK
16/4/2026 MusikBunker – Aachen, DE
17/4/2026 Neue Zukunft – Berlin, DE
18/4/2026 Secret Location – Leipzig, DE
20/4/2026 Live At Rama Studio – Mannheim, DE
22/4/2026 Cafe V Lese – Prague, CZ
23/4/2026 Kuba – Jena, DE
24/4/2026 MK Bar – Esche-Sur-Alzette, LU
25/4/2026 Kunsthalle Im Kalkwerk – Limburg, DE
07/5/2026 Crofters – Bristol, UK
08/5/2026 Oslo – London, UK
09/5/2026 Dust – Brighton, UK
21/5/2026 Carousel – Nottingham, UK
22/5/2026 Wharf Chambers – Leeds, UK
23/5/2026 Little Buildings – Newcastle, UK
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