Album Review Caroline Polachek – Pang

On ‘Insomnia’, the midpoint on Caroline Polachek’s otherworldly first full-length album under her own name, the classically-trained vocalist beautifully merges traditional folklore with the processed vocals and synths that dominate across ‘Pang’. It’s indicative of the record’s reluctance to be confined, reimagining the notion of pop in collaboration with PC Music stalwarts Danny L Harle and AG Cook. Despite bursting with vast electronic sounds, their delicate production builds around Caroline’s multifaceted vocals, from the subdued wails of the album’s title track to Haim-esque pop brilliance of ‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’.

Much like the force of the record’s title, ‘Pang’ is immediate and remarkably unique. Building on the soundscapes of early pioneers - not least Imogen Heap - Caroline joins contemporary and fellow PC Music collaborator Charli XCX in innovation. The underlying experimentation is powered by her vocal ability, generating a pop record that effortlessly overshadows the tried and tested. Three years since the demise of cult-favourites Chairlift, and two since her instrumental offering under the CEP moniker, Caroline Polachek has built a distinctively personal voice, unafraid to show vulnerability through a powerful and original sound.