Ex-Delgados Emma Pollock w/New LP

Released by Chemikal Underground on March 2

By Blurt Staff

Emma Pollock, formerly of The Delgados, returns to Chemikal Underground with "The Law of Large Numbers", her second solo outing, and if her ‘repatriation' to the label she helped to create represents a return to more familiar territory, then the same could also be said for the album itself. The follow-up to 2007's 4AD-released "Watch the Fireworks", Emma's second solo effort eschews the traditional, accessibly melodic approach of her debut for a more angular musical terrain: "The Law of Large Numbers" is crammed with unconventional arrangements and by Emma's own admission, was an almost entirely self-serving project.

Recorded throughout 2009 in Chem19 with husband and ex-Delgado Paul Savage producing, "The Law of Large Numbers" is marked by sparse production, hints of Dixieland jazz, abrasive pop songs, programmed drums and improvised vocal loops. Also in the mix: Tom Waits percussion and jagged guitars contrasting with undulating piano and close harmonies. Guest vocalist Aden also appears on several cuts.

In the words of Emma herself, "The truest representation of me as an individual - whatever that means. I feel like I'm beginning to understand the difference between being a solo artist and being in a band, making music for my own gratification first and foremost. I was determined this album would have a drier, less emotive feel than 'Fireworks' and that it should be about not tying up loose ends, not controlling everything and leaving room for a more immediate response, improvising around a good idea in the studio. If the idea's good then it should hopefully produce a great result."

With a mathematical theorem as its title and sparse, weathered artwork recalling vintage hi-fi manuals, it would be tempting to make the assumption that Emma's leaning towards a more clinical, almost sterile approach to her work and while there may be some truth in that, inevitably, it's not the whole story. "It's most certainly not a cold record, it might contain some contradictions but most of the records I like do. I don't want things to sound too 'easy' and prefer to make something more oblique and hopefully more interesting, not too saccharine or sweet."

So what's with the numbers then? The Law of Large Numbers is a theorem concerned with the outcome of a repeated simple experiment with equal probability outcomes, such as rolling a dice, and its comparison with the theoretically predicted result. It's responsible for many a disillusioned gambler. Emma elaborates: "It's all about risk and expectation, and the human race's unwillingness to accept the random nature of events. There's a lot of beauty in mathematics and the natural world; it's all tied in with the wonder of things that are beyond our control."