I know Jonny Polonsky sounds like he ought to be a private eye in some noir pulp fiction book rather than a well known session player who has worked with among others Neil Diamond, Minnie Driver and Donovan and he's also worked with Reeves Gabrel and Slim Cain, so you'll have to put aside the noir imagery and dip into this album of dark modern pop.
The album opens with Ghost Like Soul that features Cedric Bixler from At The Drive In on a song that reminds me more of Enya than it does any noise rock, it's chilled out and laid back and Cedric sounds like he's reading an excerpt from a long poem with Jonny doing some breathless intonations as well.
Sign In the Window is a somewhat breathy synth pop ballad as he stares at the sign that says Hello in a language he doesn't know, well how does he not know that's what it says, as the song builds and builds it feels like its trying to make us feel like we are welling up.
The Weeping Souls sounds like he's re-working one of the post Bowie Spiders From Mars songs into some sort of modern kitchen sink drama style song, it almost reminds me of Kitchens Of Distinction trying to update their sound, not sure how well it works but there is so much going on you'll hear something new almost every time you hear it.
No Tears is a wistful slow ponderous plea to keep the tears to yourself and to try not to cry yourself to sleep again. Take Me Home is even slower and sadder and seems to channel a bit of Belfast Child from Simple Minds while using similar ideas to Hans Lundin as to how to use the synth drums in this song.
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You Turn Me On doesn't sound anything like as libidinous as a song with this title might be expected too, as it's more of a breathy come on and gentle plea to be allowed to show you his love.
Aenerone sounds like the sort of thing Jean Michel Jarre would make as a demo before the vocals come in and act like someone is having breathy sex by a microphone.
The album closes with A Willing Eye which kind of reminds me of early Belle & Sebastian, it has that hazy beauty and laid back wistful longing before it starts it's slow build that threatens to become a full blown lighters in the air synth ballad, but instead dissolves back to the wistful longing with occasional builds a rather nice lush closing number.
Find out more at https://www.jonnypolonsky.com/???https://jonnypolonsky.bandcamp.com/album/kingdom-of-sleep
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