POLYESTER SKIN | VINYL RECORD (LP)

Jacob Bellens's Polyester Skin is sure to amaze left-field pop enthusiasts and singer-songwriter fans alike. The locally celebrated and award-winning singer-songwriter's third solo album is a wonderful mix of heartfelt lyrics, crisp and modern pop production, and Bellens's signature vocals, which never fail to captivate. As a household name in his native Denmark, Bellens is no stranger to releasing albums and playing live. He has released many albums with his own bands (including Murder and I Got You on Tape), turned in guest performances for other artists, and played close to 500 shows. Polyester Skin came to life in close collaboration with acclaimed Danish producer and DJ Kasper Bjorke, and follows many collaborative endeavors between Bellens and Bjorke; Bellens has often featured on Bjorke's work, including Young Again from Standing on Top of Utopia (HFN 004CD, 2010) and Lose Yourself to Jenny from Fool (HFN 014CD/LP, 2012). While Polyester Skin's overall sonic impression is electronic, the album also boasts an impressive lineup of guest musicians including Tomas Hoffding aka Bon Homme (WhoMadeWho), Jakob Hoyer (The Raveonettes, Trentemoller, Darkness Falls), and Nils Grondahl (Under Byen, Efterklang, Pinkunoizu). Opener Tidal Wave sets the mood with open, airy production backing Bellens's voice. The beats and synths have, as Bellens puts it, some kind of Vangelis/ Chariots of Fire thing going on that's tough to resist. One of Jacob Bellens's distinctive features is the almost Damon Albarn-esque musical diversity of his output. The heavy groove, synthesizer strings, and especially the vocal rhythm of Behind the Barricades reveal Bellens's long-held fascination with rap, while Raining Parachutes has a Caribbean feel to it, a musical style at which Bellens's earlier work has also hinted. Polyester Skin features quite a few tracks with shuffling grooves and synthesizers that pay homage to a certain flavor of '80s pop, including the up-tempo Ace of Spades and the beautiful ballad Untouchable. But don't let the seemingly lightweight synth-ingredients and crisp drum machines deceive you; a lyrical abundance of existential depth and intimate melancholy is omnipresent throughout Polyester Skin, alongside it's groovy, catchy pop songs, including Back to You and Polyester Skin. Jacob Bellens's third solo album is a playful and modern take on the artistic virtues that have made him into one of the most celebrated artists on Denmark's independent scene.