French electronic music producer Thylacine recently unveiled his remix, “Poly (and 74 musicians).” “Poly” was originally released as part of his debut album, Transsiberian.
Along with the 74-piece Pays de la Loire National Orchestra and conductor Uèle Lamore, the song mounts on soaring string arrangements and a captivating, emotional cinematic soundscape. Flawlessly blending electro, ambient and classical elements, “Poly (and 74 Musicians)” glides, hums, and ripples with beguiling layers of sound.
Talking about the project, Thylacine shares, “‘Poly’ is a track I originally composed on the Trans-Siberian Railway, based on a recording on Bulgarian polyphony. As I didn’t have much equipment with me on the train, it’s constructed from fairly simple elements, including a very synthetic ‘false orchestral arrangement’ made with a small midi keyboard on the train. I’ve already had the opportunity to perform several different versions of it during my concerts, but I’ve always wanted to properly record the string parts with a real orchestra. When the project of doing a concert with a symphony orchestra emerged, it went straight to the top of the list of pieces to reinterpret.”
Released in 2015, Transsiberian thrust Thylacine into the international spotlight, announcing the arrival of a prodigy. He followed with a stunning series of albums, including 2022’s 9 Pieces.
Opening on low-slung, emerging tones, “Poly (and 74 musicians)” flows into shimmering washes atop cashmere, sweeping strings as a children’s choir imbues the tune with haunting, hymn-like vocals. Drenched in visceral, affecting emotions, the harmonics ascend on soft, lush spirals, revealing an imminence of passionate hues.
Speaking about the video, Thylacine says, “For the video that accompanies it, I wanted to keep the idea of the journey, very present in the ‘Transsiberian’ album, in its simplest version. Cécile Chabert, who directed the video, wrote a journey that moves between the different protagonists of her symphonic interpretation according to each moment of the track, and the result is a combination of just two similar sequence shots, filmed during the general rehearsal and the live show.’’
Gorgeously arranged and surging with profound moving sensations, “Poly (and 74 musicians) discloses the sheer genius of Thylacine.