Polar Bear’s landmark album Held on the Tips of Fingers (2005) is finally available on vinyl for the first time, breathing new life into a recording that helped redefine jazz for a new generation. A Mercury Prize-nominated release, the album catapulted the band into the spotlight and solidified their reputation as one of the most influential British jazz groups of the 21st century.

Building on the foundations laid in Dim Lit, Held on the Tips of Fingers marked a bold evolution. The band's core—Seb Rochford, Pete Wareham, Mark Lockheart, Tom Herbert, and Leafcutter John—delivered a sharper, freer, and more expressive sound. The compositions were looser, the textures richer, and the interplay more daring, striking a rare balance between raw immediacy and meticulous craftsmanship.

Widely acclaimed upon its release, the album earned a 5-star review in The Observer, a spot in Jazzwise’s 100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World, and a place in The Guardian’s 1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die. Urgent yet timeless, Held on the Tips of Fingers remains a touchstone of modern British jazz—an album that expanded the genre’s boundaries and influenced a wave of experimental music in its wake.

This long-awaited vinyl edition revisits a milestone in creative music, reaffirming the bold vision of Seb Rochford and the fearless spirit of Polar Bear.

• Released: 07/18/2025
• Availability : Pre-Order
• Format: Vinyl

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