Polyrock
Encyclopedia
Polyrock was an American
post-punk
/new wave
band formed in New York City
in 1978 and active until the mid-1980s. Strongly influenced by minimalism
, the group was produced by the composer Philip Glass
and Kurt Munkacsi. The band, led by singer/guitarist Billy Robertson (formerly of the group Model Citizen), had a keyboard-heavy, pattern-based sound strongly reminiscent of Glass's work; in fact, Glass performed on their first two albums.
Polyrock's lineup also included vocalist Catherine Oblasney, guitarist Tommy Robertson, drummer Joseph Yannece, keyboard player Lenny Aaron, and Curt Cosentino. The group signed with RCA
by 1980, and delivered their debut album that same year. Another album followed in 1981 (Changing Hearts), but Polyrock disbanded in 1982. The band are sometimes said to have released another album in 1981 (Electro-Romantic), but, apparently, no such album exists.
They were often compared by critics to Talking Heads
, another band of the same era, though they never approached that band's fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
/new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band formed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1978 and active until the mid-1980s. Strongly influenced by minimalism
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
, the group was produced by the composer Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
and Kurt Munkacsi. The band, led by singer/guitarist Billy Robertson (formerly of the group Model Citizen), had a keyboard-heavy, pattern-based sound strongly reminiscent of Glass's work; in fact, Glass performed on their first two albums.
Polyrock's lineup also included vocalist Catherine Oblasney, guitarist Tommy Robertson, drummer Joseph Yannece, keyboard player Lenny Aaron, and Curt Cosentino. The group signed with RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
by 1980, and delivered their debut album that same year. Another album followed in 1981 (Changing Hearts), but Polyrock disbanded in 1982. The band are sometimes said to have released another album in 1981 (Electro-Romantic), but, apparently, no such album exists.
They were often compared by critics to Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, another band of the same era, though they never approached that band's fame.
Albums
- 1980 – PolyrockPolyrock (album)Polyrock is Polyrock's eponymous debut album. It was first released in 1980 on LP on RCA Records. A CD version was not available until 2007, when it was reissued on Wounded Bird Records.- Track listing :All songs written by Bill and Tom Robertson...
- 1980 – RCA Special Radio Series Vol. III (LP of Radio recordings)
- 1981 – Changing HeartsChanging Hearts (album)- Track listing :#"Changing Hearts" #"Love Song" #"Quiet Spot" #"Cries and Whispers" #"Mean Cow" #"In Full Circle" #"Like Papers on a Rack" #"The New U.S." #"Slow Dogs" #"Hallways"...
- 1982 – Above the Fruited Plain EP
- 1986 – No Love Lost (Cassette compilation of various unreleased tracks)
Singles
- 1980 – Romantic Me / Your Dragging Feet #69 [Club Play Singles]
- 1982 – Working On My Love / Call of the Wild
Links
- [ Allmusic.com]
- Band overview