Caroline Polachek grew up in Connecticut and was formerly the vocalist for the indie-pop duo Chairlift, who had a surprise hit in 2008 with ‘Bruises’. She’s previously flirted with a solo career, releasing albums under the aliases Ramona Lisa and CEP, but Pang is her first record under her own name.
Pang is recorded with producers from the London collective PC Music, as well as New York producer Daniel Nigro. It’s a similar crew that’s produced recent records from Charli XCX and Carly Rae Jepsen, but Polachek favours artier, spacier music. The tone of Pang is dominated by ethereal art-pop, although it also features straightforward pop moments.
According to an interview with The Guardian, Polachek experienced adrenal rushes that interfered with her sleep. She referred to them as “pangs” and attempted to recreate the feeling in her music – the project was initially planned as warm and folk-tinged. Polachek also compares her experience making Pang to Joni Mitchell’s Hejira – at the end of a marriage, she felt a need to escape from New York.
Unusually, the most obvious pop hooks are buried towards the end of the record. ‘Door’ was the first single, and it’s a pretty and meandering melody, with meditative lyrics like “Who is the you who I sing to/When the house is empty?” ‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’ is the most overt pop song, with its memorable “Get a little lonely” hook and Polachek’s excitable gasps.
The more ethereal songs sound surprisingly like Enya, although more conventional reference points are Imogen Heap and Bjork. Songs like ‘Look At Me Now’ and ‘Go As A Dream’ are gorgeous, with Polachek using her lovely voice to emote pretty tunes.
Pang presents Polachek’s pop sense and more ethereal moments in a unified fashion, and it’s one of my favourite records from this year.
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I definitely hear the Enya influence.
Yup, might not even be purposeful, just similar vocal timbres.
I like Go as A Dream. Take It Out on Me is my favorite song by Chairlift and should have been a hit!
I don’t know any Chairlift at all actually – I’d never heard any of Polachek’s other stuff.
I knew this album was going to be reviewed here. One of my favourite albums this year.
Cool – it’s right in the art-pop meets pop-hook zone that I enjoy. Any other recommendations since you were right with this one?
Three recommended albums are:
Good at Falling by The Japanese House
Morbid Stuff by PUP
All Mirrors by Angel Olsen
Here’s a funny fact: The vocal bridge in ‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’ contains the lyrics: Show me your banana, show me the banana.
Cool – I’m already a fan of All Mirrors, and I didn’t realise The 1975 connection with The Japanese House so I’m checking that out too.
I like Go As A Dream much better…it’s not as obvious
I like how she does both. The other poppy songs aren’t quite as blatant and simple as ‘So Hot….’
Got me intrigued with this one and I’m liking the vibe. I’m gonna put aside some time for this one.
Cool! I hope you enjoy.
I like that name, so hot you’re hurting my feelings – and now i like the tune too!
Yes, it’s a great title.
Happy New Year to one of my most fervent Likers. May 2020 be as unlike 2019 as you wish.
Thank you! This year was pretty good, so I’m happy with similar.
Haven’t heard this one yet. Really like Chairlift’s first album so I’m curious about this album.
Cool – hope you enjoy!