‘Sheela Na Gig’ is probably the perfect Rock song. It starts slowly, builds in intensity and slams into a perfect crescendo. The subject matter is controversial and the delivery has emotion, power and superb delivery.
I first heard Polly when I got the ‘Rid of me’ album. It was the best album of the d
ecade and restored my faith in the continuing force of Rock Music. In this age where music is sanitised to appeal to the lowest common denominator and overproduced into bland Pop mush it was so refreshing to hear someone with spirit doing something raw, real and powerful.
Of course I rushed out to buy ‘Dry’ which was equally as good and then the brilliant 4-track demos. It all served to confirm that we had a major talent unleashed and she was going to shake England and the world.
Polly heralded from Dorset and is not only a ballsy singer but also a great guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Her songs, ably supported by John Parish, are full of Punk fervour, emotional intensity and intelligence. There are times when the emotion becomes so great it’s almost on the point of insanity. The hatred at the break-up of a relationship is so violent that it has all the hallmarks of a bunny-boiling incident.
The sexuality shrieks but this is no frilly bimbo. It is a feminist unleashed lust, a mature woman in command of her desires. There is naked erotic animalistic intensity.
Her relationship and collaboration with Nick Cave was epic.
For me the rest of her albums only occasionally rise to the same level but Polly is none the less still one of the best things on the scene. She never does anything bland. I’d go and see her perform anywhere.