Exploded Drawing

RIP (8/96, p.69) - 4 (out of 5) - "...[EXPLODED DRAWING has] some dazzling compositions, some eyeball-loosening guitar work, and, yeah, even a song or two of Yes-style length..."

Polvo's Exploded Drawing takes listeners on a sonic journey that encompasses nearly every kind of sound that a guitar has been known to make, and a few that might be unheard of until now. The group has worked on their intricate, changeable sound since the early '90s, but on Exploded Drawing, it shows they've worked on their songwriting as well. The great majority of this hour-plus-long album is as listenable as it is inventive, particularly on the alternately shimmery and explosive "Bridesmaid Blues" and the angular "Feather of Forgiveness." "Light of the Moon" sounds like a twisted cowboy ballad, and "Missing Receipts" is an eerie, echoing instrumental that exemplifies Polvo's experimental guitar play. Polvo doesn't forget to include the punk, as "High-Wire Moves" and "Taste of Your Mind" testify, but blues, Eastern music, folk, country, and ambient music also find their way into Exploded Drawing, giving each song a twisting, unpredictable quality. Though the album's length can lose some listeners, if the mood is right for arty guitar music, then Polvo's Exploded Drawing is the right choice. ~ Heather Phares