Polo & Pan’s third album, 22:22, is a remarkable showcase of their genre-defying artistry, creating a universe where each element harmonizes while remaining intriguingly unpredictable.
For over ten years, Polo & Pan have ventured into uncharted musical landscapes. By blending sounds from some of the world’s most exotic locales, these musical explorers fuse their enchanting influences with the stylish essence of French house. The result is a sound that captivates and inspires.
Their previous albums, 2021’s Cyclorama and 2017’s Caravelle, transported listeners on a global journey, placing their whimsical inspirations front and center. Their debut album emerged from a tropical paradise, where diverse languages blended seamlessly with breezy jazz, infectious funk, and the soothing rhythms of Bossa Nova. Their sophomore record offered a serene escape, characterized by mellow harmonies and a reflective groove. However, their latest creation, 22:22, presents a uniquely different journey.
The album opens with a tale of a lonely piano seeking its counterpart (a violin), narrated by a child. As the story unfolds, orchestral instruments emerge, each contributing to a swaying melody that induces a sense of vertigo—leading us down a metaphorical rabbit hole.
As the song builds, we find ourselves in a new dimension where contrasting elements coexist harmoniously. The interplay of hot and cold, light and dark, fast and slow, past and future shapes the album’s essence, reflecting the significance of the title: balance and harmony.
The duo collaborates with the Mexico-based women’s collective I.M YONI on “Nenuphar,” a ballad intricately crafted. Each note falls into place effortlessly, as sweeping strings, soft synth pads, and electronic textures blend in harmony, forming a delicate yet grand symphony. The tropical and retro French pop influences create a dreamlike, almost hallucinatory atmosphere where nostalgia and futurism waltz together.
“The Mirror,” one of the album’s standout tracks, delivers a vibrant, electrifying sound designed to energize the dancefloor. Rooted in deep disco grooves, soaring synths, and a driving bassline, the song builds an exhilarating momentum, each beat quickening the tempo, layering intensifying euphoria. Just when the peak seems endless, the track exhales into calming strings and airy guitars, providing a moment of stillness beneath a shimmering disco ball.
The album’s climactic finale, “La Nuit (feat. Arthur Teboul),” is a brilliant conclusion that encapsulates Polo & Pan’s essence: playful, innovative, and limitless. Reimagining doo-wop through a contemporary lens, the producers reshape this romantic genre with radiant soundscapes, classic instrumentation, and ethereal guitars reminiscent of another era. The velvety vocals glide over a swaying rhythm, intimate yet theatrical. Beneath it all lies a slow-burning groove, steadily pulsing, weaving diverse meters and swirling textures into a captivating flow.
22:22 is a masterclass in balance and harmony, inviting listeners to explore the stylistic contrasts within. Each track possesses its unique identity, yet the true beauty lies in the elegant curation of these contrasts, creating seamless transitions between the known and the unknown. The album highlights Polo & Pan’s signature style of genre bending, resulting in a sound where every element coexists while remaining delightfully surprising. Their new music thrives in this pleasurable tension, crafting a “moment suspended in time” where adventure awaits at every turn.
Follow Polo & Pan on social media to stay updated on their upcoming tour dates, and listen to 22:22 on your favorite music platform.
Stream Polo & Pan – 22:22 on Spotify:
Polo & Pan – 22:22 – Tracklist:
- The Piano & The Violin
- Pareidolies
- Disco Nap feat. Metronomy
- Nenuphar
- Petite Étoile feat. Beth Ditto
- The Mirror
- A Different Side of Us feat. PawPaw Rod
- 22:23 feat. Antonin & Vico
- Summer Is Almost Over
- Bluetopia feat. Kids Return
- Laszlo
- La Nuit feat. Arthur Teboul
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