Album Review: Caroline Polachek - 'Desire, I Want to Turn Into You'
Caroline Polachek is bold and daring on new album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You.
Caroline Polachek has always been an artist who does exactly what she wants. Co-founder of the band Chairlift alongside Aaron Pfenning, since their debut record in 2008, Polachek has proved herself as one of the most exciting artists in indie-pop.
Her debut album under her own name, Pang, was released in 2019 to much critical acclaim, and Desire is certainly further solidifying her status in the industry.
Opening with the euphoric single Welcome To My Island, the record starts off with a triumphant and confident bang. Polachek is not afraid of telling us exactly where she’s at. The chorus is one that deserves to be sang along to at the top of one’s lungs. A perfect opener and sets the tone for the rest of the album masterfully.
Pretty In Possible follows, a vastly different track, however, seems to fit incredibly well. The lyrics are wonderfully vague, and her vocals are stunning and goosebump-inducing as usual. “And I cannot afford that kind of free” she sings, her voice reaching stratospheric heights on that last word.
Singles Bunny Is A Rider (released first in summer 2021), Billions and Sunset all are fantastic additions, each one bringing something different, whether that be Mediterranean vibes dotted with classical guitar, shimmering electro-pop with an outro performed by a choir, or curious, cat and mouse vibes possibly inspired by Theseus and the Minotaur.
An undoubtable highlight of the album is Crude Drawing Of An Angel, a sinister, sensational track that unsettles yet intrigues the listener massively. Her ethereal, other-worldly vocals have never been better than on this song. “Angel/I’d hold you down/Forsake me/Here on the ground” she delivers. The production pulls you in, enveloping you like a blanket. “All or nothing” Polachek sings, her vocals yet again reaching the stars as she shoots up an octave.
Another track that grabs the listener’s attention is Hopedrunk Everasking, a sad, haunting song that takes you to a different world. It definitely has similarities to songs such as Go As A Dream and Parachute from her debut album, but in no way does it feel as though it’s been done before, or that we’ve heard it before. That is certainly one of Polachek’s strengths as an artist; everything she does feels completely and utterly fresh and brand new.
A couple of tracks share qualities with other artists she may have taken inspiration from, notably Butterfly Net which has echoes of Bells Ring by Mazzy Star during the intro, then backed by glorious acoustic guitar and sparkly vocals. “There I was, with my butterfly net/Trying to catch your light” She sings. It seems to be a song about someone who has such a bright light that you feel compelled to try and catch some for yourself.
The penultimate track Smoke is an incredible one. The production is phenomenal, with drumbeats, vocalisations, synths, and plenty more things going on. “And the fallout doesn’t faze me/Take a bullet for my baby” she sings happily.
Desire, I Want To Turn Into You is an impressive and imaginative album that proves why Polachek is one of the most talented artists in the industry currently.
Words by Lucy Skeet
