Artist: Polyenso
Album: Pure In The Plastic
Label: Dog Radio, Tone Tree Music
Genre: Indie Rock, R&B

What’s your favorite piece of visual art? Maybe a Van Gogh painting? What about an intricate, modern art sculpture? It could be an award-winning film or a specific portrayal of Swan Lake or Les Miserables. Whatever it may be, you know that an immeasurable amount of detail went into its creation. Brush strokes, perspective, style, cinematography, blocking, choreography, costuming, casting; do we normally consider so much detail when it comes to the music we listen to? Polyenso does in their sophomore release, Pure In The Plastic.

Where should I start? The unique song structures? The minute sampling? The perfectly nuanced pop influences fused with intriguing alternative elements? Polyenso have taken so much and put it into these ten tracks and it all fits in congruence; like a beautiful, sonic jigsaw puzzle.

All three members of this group have given their all, from the subtly whispered falsetto harmonies in “I.W.W.I.T.I.W.” (which wouldn’t sound out of place on Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience) to the mesmerizing percussion of “Osaka Son,” which also happens to include the most tasteful use of auto-tuned vocal melodies this side of Cher’s “Believe.” Even centerpiece “__(A Pool Worth Diving In)” sounds like it could be a missing track from Kimbra’s fantastic sophomore record, The Golden Echo.

By now, we all know the story of how this band came to be, so there’s no need to continue beating a horse that’s been six feet under for some time now. Trust me, I was one of those guys. When they debuted with One Big Particular Loop, I was skeptical. I missed their post-hardcore roots and wanted more. But Pure In The Plastic has made a believer out of me. It’s time to let go of what was and embrace what is. And what is, is glorious, indeed.

This subtle goliath is out today, April 1, and is well worth a permanent place in any music fan’s collection. The album is available to stream on Spotify, with digital copies for purchase through iTunes, and physical copies here.

SCORE: 9/10

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Kacy Raby

A writer from time to time, I mostly watch movies, play Pokemon, and sing and play in my band, Valleys In Autumn. One day, maybe, I'll be captain of the Starship Enterprise.

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