Every once in a while, a band comes along with the ability to summarise universal experiences of love and loss with great potency. On new offering ‘’Dust’’, Liverpool’s Polar States navigate faded memories of the past as they transition to a brighter future.
Although the track marks a new release for Polar States, the band have been around for some years: establishing themselves as serious contenders with support early on from Radio 1 and Coldplay producer Jon Withnall. The band have gone from strength to strength in recent years, selling out venues up and down the country with the support of a devoted fanbase.
On new release “Dust”, their momentum shows no signs of being interrupted. Nods to contemporaries like The Night Cafe and JAWS can be heard throughout Polar States’ work. There is a depth to the writing and sonics, however, that far exceeds any of their contemporaries. Introspection is laid out on dream-like soundscapes with great thought and sensitivity. This is an uncommon trope in the popular music of today.
Cocteau Twins esque swirling guitar work paints a turbulent and hazy picture of the past, whilst soaring vocal melodies mark an optimism for the future. The first half of the track blissfully simmers as memories are navigated: a reference to ‘’pictures and polaroids’’ demonstrating how we often ache for what has been. This is championed by one particularly poignant line, lead singer Paul Tong admitting ‘’I always drown in the depth of your eyes’’. Whilst we long for the past, and perhaps forgotten love, we are also aware of its tempestuous nature and how, as much as we would like to, we often cannot return.
The track sails to a triumphant crescendo in which Tong chants ‘’In the dust, in the dust it’s a long way down’’. The reference to ‘dust’ throughout the track holds a dual interpretation. Whilst dust does signify the end of something, it can also indicate the beginning. It is always possible for us to move forward as better and stronger people. In the midst of the colossal outro, you can’t help but feel like a process of healing is underway. The past is relived, the door is eventually closed and a brighter future waits just on the horizon.