Polica & Stargaze - Music For The Long Emergency Album Review
Although gleaning some of its initial inspiration from a 2005 book, 'The Long Emergency' by Howard Kunstler, this collaboration feels less like a soundtrack than a concept album. Kunstler is mapping out a future where oil production has peaked, economies are increasingly unstable, water scarcity is prevalent, transportation in large part is unsustainable and a return to a more regionalised self sufficiency seems inevitable (all cheery stuff). 'Music For The Long Emergency' is a little more optimistic despite its partial development coming in the wake of Trump's election win.
The bringing together of two very creative forces in the funkily infused electro pop of Polica and the chamber orchestra collective of Stargaze fires up a melting pot masterfully stirred by producer Ryan Olsen and conductor Andre De Ridder. Having met in the states, the bands then had a more formal introduction and chance to flesh out some ideas in Berlin where both Polica and Stargaze were keen to work on a project to develop what they had started. With Olsen having come up with some 'song sketches' and recorded the initial sessions, he then began work on putting together the threads of each idea. "They were not even song structures, just electronic textures," de Ridder says.
The result of two years of hard work between the bands and the producer has certainly culminated in an interesting album. Lead off track 'Fake Like' eases you in very gently with Channy Leaneagh's vocal in slightly more withdrawn and subdued guise than you'd normally associate with her. The reserved and measured strings complement her delivery as the modest percussive undercurrent pushes along. It's pleasant, unconfrontational and flows effortlessly with a serenity and grace. 'Agree' is similarly balanced. A melange of sumptuous strings and mildly melancholic vocals plead: "How do we stop what we've started?"
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Jabberwocky (August 15th-16th)
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