Polyrock (1980)

Imagine Devo, Television, and Talking Heads but with better haircuts.

Kronomyth 1.0: Fair of music.

You can imagine Polyrock being pitched to RCA as Talking Heads under the tutelage of Philip Glass. Their music owes as much of a debt to Television and Brian Eno (specifically “Third Uncle”), but the Heads parallel seems to hold up the best because of Billy Robertson’s clean-cut image and nervous voice. Unfortunately, by the time Polyrock arrived at the party, the best seats were already taken, and they got swept into the second wave of new wave artists like Suburban Lawns and Flying Lizards. Polyrock deserved better, but never got the chance to create a visual identity that would have captured wider attention. Led by brothers Billy and Tommy Robertson, this sextet made intelligent, agitated music that threw giddy melodies into the boiling stew of atonal angst and restless rhythms. Equally at home with instrumentals that sound like Peter Gunn on speed (Bucket Rider) and songs that suggest Ric Ocasek having a very bad day (Romantic Me), it’s still a small home that feels cramped much of the time. The eleven songs are driven by the same engine, loopy but never silly, as if in an alternate universe somewhere The B-52’s took themselves seriously. With all the name dropping I’m doing, you may be tempted to pick this up, and I sure wouldn’t stop you. Polyrock and their next, Changing Hearts, were two of the more principled new wave albums to come out of the early 80’s. If Philip Glass’ tight organ patterns push your buttons, Polyrock may push even more of them. Definitely a candidate for one of the best bands you’ve never heard of.

Original elpee version

A1. Romantic Me (3:09)
A2. Green for Go (3:40)
A3. This Song (2:15)
A4. Go West (3:22)
A5. Your Dragging Feet (5:00)
B1. No Love Lost (2:55)
B2. Body Me (2:41)
B3. Sound Alarm (3:01)
B4. Bucket Rider (2:55)
B5. Shut Your Face (2:13)
B6. #7

All songs written by Bill and Tom Robertson.

The Players

Lenny Aaron (keyboards), Curt Cosentino (bass machine, synthesizer), Catherine Oblasney (vocals, percussion), Billy Robertson (guitar, vocals), Tommy Robertson (guitars, electronics, violin), Joseph Yannece (drums, percussion, backing vocals) with Philip Glass (piano, additional keyboards). Produced by Philip Glass & Kurt Munkacsi; engineered by Kurt Munkacsi, Dominick Maita, Hugo Dwyer.

The Pictures

Photos by Nick Sangiamo. Art direction by J.J. Stelmach.

The Plastic

Released on elpee in 1980 in the US (RCA, AFL1-3714) and the UK (RCA, PL-43502).