With an almost disturbing sound, the song is less of a comeback and more of a quiet reckoning - it’s cold, specific and gently devastating.
From the start of the track, it unsettles. There’s a backbone of quaky guitar that is paired alongside spiraling, ticking drums that steer away from your average percussion. It holds an eerie element throughout the whole record that doesn’t go away, a song that’s tense but never chaotic, with a dread like demeanour pressed into every note. The band makes it sound beautiful in a strange way.
Lead singer Katie Ball’s vocals are the heart of the song. Her voice almost floats above the music, adding to that piercing, ghost-like feel of the single. There’s a blankness in her delivery of the lyrics that make it all the more haunting but alluring at the same time. She has the kind of voice that lingers even when the song is over.
‘POLLYANNA’ doesn’t signal a complete reinvention, but it does show a band that has precision and control over their music. With this single, Just Mustard continue to shape their unique identity in the music industry, with dark elegance, less noise and an undeniable sense of purpose. Their music shouldn’t go unnoticed and the new single is just a small part of the talent this band holds.
