The promise and potential of another eight-to-nine member ensemble appears at once an exciting prospect, its scope for collaborative ingenuity above all else a force of great intrigue. Such is the climate when one approaches indie-folk troupe Institut Polaire and their debut LP, Make Your Own Mayflower. Unfortunately, the album showcases little imagination, ultimately risking monotony as it runs its course.

This is in part due to the production and the decisions made in crafting the record. Make Your Own Mayflower is a caged affair, suffering from an insistence on constantly opting for the same instrumentation track by track. Their formula can be deconstructed and understood all too easily. It's especially disappointing, given their reputation, and seems like a stubborn refusal to deviate or experiment with their sound at all. It can make for a repetitious and limited listening experience.

Institut Polaire might have concocted a truly stunning debut effort, if only they were willing to venture from an apparent comfort zone. That seems to be the situation, at least, with four of the tracks - 'Leaving Her Shook', 'Old Fashioned Affliction', 'The Bright And The Bore', 'Exalted From Your Pretty Head' - all sharing key musical similarities, their ideas and concepts closely aligned. One suspects the band knew full well of the trend, too, carefully spacing out each track across the LP to avoid a total descent into farce. To that end, they did their best, but an astute listener will notice the pattern. Of course, their songs as standalone pieces should received deserved attention, but a listen of Make Your Own Mayflower from start to finish proves an act of taxing determination. The inclusion of an interlude (‘America’), which sounds perfectly at home with the rest of the record, only worsens the situation and fails to provide the brief reprieve he release desperately needs.

Whilst the listening experience as a whole may prove challenging, persistence with Make Your Own Mayflower can pay off, providing listeners with an array of pop gems simply begging to be discovered. The mild-mannered title track bears subtle charms; it is a catchy, engaging cut that seems ripe for single release. 'Globe Fodder', though short, provides a joyous jaunty pleasure, with magnificent mandolins leading the charge.

Taken as an entire record, Make Your Own Mayflower never truly rocks the boat. When you really absorb the album, it's obvious Institut Polaire have barely scratched the surface of the talents evident in their live performances and earlier releases. It is an average first effort, though not without its delights should one persist beyond the first few listens.

Review Score: 6/10