It’s difficult to ascribe a specific genre to Polar Dust’s sound – a stirring cauldron of dark, gothic feels with some alternative and electronic rock mixed in there? It sure makes a unique and distinct recipe. Originally formed in Reykjavik, Iceland by Sara “X” Eksteen; their music most certainly does embody aspects reminiscent of those landscapes, within which their seed was planted. After exploring the Icelandic music scene and culture for around seven years, Sara decided that it was time to come back home to South Africa and reformed the band in 2010.
The album starts off with Anhedonia, an acoustic intro track that has a very ethereal feel, especially with the hauntings piano and vocals. Siamese follows, and even though I feel like the transition from the intro into this track could’ve been executed better, I absolutely love the sexy groove of Siamese once it kicks in.
Fragmented Veil is a powerful track with fantastic mixing and mastering. It starts off slow and reflective, building weight through tasteful, minimalistic percussion; beautiful and haunting vocals; and an electronic wall of sound that feels like it surrounds you and eventually swallows you into a well of dreams.. Sexy and twisted dreams it seems, if judging by the track to follow, Pheromone. This is my personal favourite on the album – starting off with a fat bass line and an eerie, yet alluring atmosphere; shifting into lovely, dreamlike passages; giving sweet reprieve from the heavier sections. The chant-like vocals are stunning and remind me of desert sounds from the Middle East.
The Unstruck Bell starts off with a massive and weighty riff, saturated in distortion. It’s a powerful and trancelike track, with a doomy/stoner foundation and I really dig it.
The album closes with Holding On, bringing back the piano, which ties back nicely with how it greeted us. The track is potent and has a wonderful interplay between darker and lighter atmospheres, reminding me of a space between life and death – a limbo of sorts.
The mixing on some of the tracks felt slightly off, with the balance and interplay between the instruments feeling somewhat disconnected; almost like that part of the process was a little rushed.
Even though Fragmented Veil isn’t my usual brand of sonic sorcery, the deeper I delved into the journey, the more familiar and resonant the music became. It’s introspective and personal, which certainly reflects in the listening experience and it feels very honest, allowing one to more authentically connect to the expressions of the artists. Go ahead and give this album a spin, especially if you’re into darker, more melancholic soundscapes.
Polar Dust has years of experience behind them and with some fresh musicians in their roster, I’m looking forward to what they’ll manifest for the future.
“Dwell in Darkness. Live in Light.”
-Lunis Voidbright-