Caroline Polachek enters the world with one of the most ambitious singles of the year, ‘Billions’, where the lack of clear foundation, done so in complete confidence, ultimately works beautifully in its favor.

The first thing that’ll catch a listener’s attention within the first few measures, musician or not, is the very intriguing production. It gives off this world feel, with a mix of clicky electronic rhythms, and eastern-Asian percussion sprinkled beneath the instrumentation. The soft pad making the production breathe is almost meditative in the way it simply floats. Caroline’s voice makes its entrance shortly after the music begins, with a melodious verse. Sprinkles of harmonies are scattered, giving punches to the song, with more production tricks that’ll raise eyebrows. Caroline drops an octave for a more intimate verse, leading into a bridge section that uses a piano to accentuate the small choir singing the lead melody. The chord changes, with a subtle major twist at the end of the progression, gives this very victorious feel to the progression. With the subtlety and soft feel of the composition, it makes for a very interesting combination. The instrumental section at the three-and-a-half-minute mark is really where the song shines the brightest, showcasing the ambitious nature of the track to its full extent. It’s relaxing, strange, and explorative in all the best ways. The two melodies overlain atop one another constantly building up until the song eventually fades gives an epic sense to the progression. While five minutes could be considered long, its sheer length doesn’t usually draw that kind of feel, which makes it all the more impressive.

‘Billions’ is a song that might require a few listens to fully understand, but in its complexity it still remains very accessible, and a wonderful track to listen to on your first spin, or your fiftieth. It’s dynamic, and its lack of clear inspirations make it a song to be remembered for years, if not more, to come.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.