Polis

Beginning with church chimes and bells and revving cars almost suggests that Polis will be more soundscape than anything else, and an appropriate one, at that, given the urban name of the release. However the fact that the next song is called "Callgirl" shows that Billy Dalessandro is perhaps more about the profane rather than the sacred on his fourth solo album. "In the Red" takes this to the limit later, the classic electro beat and flat trash talking shot through with further echo showing that he knows his Chicago roots intimately. "Joust" has something of the video game bubble of its demi namesake, if not its exact sounds, while the aspirational, sweet shimmer and hook of "Alphasex" captivates in anthemic fashion. Further snippets of reverb and demi found sound recur throughout, as with the heavily treated conversations of "Barnacles," helping to break up a couple of the more monotonous moments along the way. "Only Your Touch" ends it all on a rising and strong note.