Review Summary: choose what you found here, sing your own song.
Every music fan has that one album that, for various and unexplainable reasons just clicked. It doesn't take much, just a riff, a small time signature change, or even just a, what my seem like, insignificant movement, for music to unveil its self in an intangible, powerful way only music can. For myself, the main album I would say that displays this remarkable trait, is Sleepingdog's sophomore release, Polar Life.
I can recall my first experience with the minimalist masterpiece. Taking a stroll through the site, I came across a soundoff for the record and something about the title enticed my interest so I clicked and read on. After doing so, with deep interest, I looked up their myspace and was greeted by the opening track to the record, Prophets, and immediately I fell in love with Acada's hushed vocal stylings. After playing through the duo's music player for close to an hour I decided to Polar Life a proper listen and *cough*illegally*cough* attained a copy. And as soon as the chorus of the second track, and one of the most incredible songs I've ever come across, Your Eyes, hit, I was a tearful mess. That best displays exactly what this album is. Consisting of just incredibly simple piano, Chantal's tender vocals, and but the slightest violin work, Your Eyes manages to bring even the manliest of men to their knees.
With that being said one cannot go without asking the question, why? How is it that Sleepingdog can make what seems to be simple minimalist dream pop, classic? First and foremost you must look at the members of the duo, more specifically the half I have yet to mention; Adam Wiltzie. Wiltzie, one half of the ambient gods Stars Of The Lid and the brainchild behind the Dead Texan, brings to the table a mastermind of subtlety, creating an incredibly lush and delicate atmosphere making Polar Life more than just a 'pretty folk record' but genius instead.
All in all what you have are ten lulling tracks, led by the lush vocal stylings of Chantal Acada, with the Texan drone legend, Adam Wiltzie, creating the beautiful atmospheric, but what can I really say to justify it as one of the of the best records of all time. Maybe I just lack the literary skill, or maybe there just aren't the words - this just well clicked. What I can say though is that this one of, if not the most tender records I have ever come across. And if you give the chance it can be the soundtrack to your first kiss, the eventual parting and the last fleeting moments before you drift off into sleep.
if only, if only I could believe that tomorrow when I wake from my sleep, that you'd still be with me. cause my love, my love will always be.
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