# In Prism

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/In_Prism.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Prism
> Source revision: 1356638519
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = In Prism
| type       = studio
| artist     = [Polvo](/source/Polvo)
| cover      = PolvoInPrism.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = {{start date|2009|9|8}}
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [Indie rock](/source/Indie_rock), [math rock](/source/math_rock), [progressive rock](/source/progressive_rock)
| length     = 49:22
| label      = [Merge](/source/Merge_Records)
| producer   = [Brian Paulson](/source/Brian_Paulson), Polvo
| prev_title = [Shapes](/source/Shapes_(album))
| prev_year  = 1997
| next_title = [Siberia](/source/Siberia_(Polvo_album))
| next_year  = 2013
}}
'''''In Prism''''' is [Polvo's](/source/Polvo) fifth [studio album](/source/studio_album), and their first since 1997's ''[Shapes](/source/Shapes_(album))''. It was recorded by [Brian Paulson](/source/Brian_Paulson) and was released on [Merge Records](/source/Merge_Records) on September 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/35508-polvo-sign-to-merge-ready-reunion-album |title= Pitchfork: Polvo Sign to Merge for Reunion Album|website=pitchfork.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611204628/http://pitchfork.com/news/35508-polvo-sign-to-merge-ready-reunion-album |archive-date=June 11, 2009}}</ref> The track "Beggar's Bowl" was streamed online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/35665-premiere-polvo-beggars-bowl |title=Premiere: Polvo: "Beggar's Bowl" &#124; News |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2009-06-18 |accessdate=2012-02-24}}</ref>

== Reception ==
{{Music ratings
| MC = 79/100<ref name=mc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/in-prism/polvo|title=In Prism by Polvo|via=www.metacritic.com}}</ref>
| rev1 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)
| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1626266|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
| rev3 = ''[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)''
| rev3score = {{rating|3.5|4}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://archive.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/10/05/polvo_in_prism/|title=Polvo, 'In Prism'|newspaper=Boston.com |via=The Boston Globe}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)''
| rev2score = B+<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/polvo-in-prism-1798206869|title=Polvo: In Prism|website=Music|date=8 September 2009 }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[Filter](/source/Filter_(magazine))''
| rev4score = 74%<ref name=mc/>
| rev5 = ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))''
| rev5score = 8.1/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13398-in-prism/|title=Polvo: In Prism|website=Pitchfork}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)''
| rev6score = {{rating|8|10}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/110421-polvo-in-prism-2496075948.html|title=Polvo: In Prism|date=September 9, 2009|website=PopMatters}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))''
| rev7score = {{Rating|7|10}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wIe3FI6TI0C&q=polvo+influence+band&pg=PA84|title = SPIN|date = September 2009}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[Under the Radar](/source/Under_the_Radar_(magazine))''
| rev10score = {{Rating|6|10}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/in_prism|title=In Prism|first=John|last=Everhart|website=www.undertheradarmag.com}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[Tiny Mix Tapes](/source/Tiny_Mix_Tapes)''
| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Polvo,9595 |title=Polvo - in Prism &#124; MUSIC REVIEWS &#124; Tiny Mix Tapes |access-date=2016-05-29 |archive-date=2009-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914044006/http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Polvo,9595 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
''In Prism'' received a [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic) score of 79 based on 14 reviews, indicating a generally favorable critical reception. Jason Lymangrover of [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) writes: "Polvo's first studio album since 1997's ''Shapes'', 2009's ''In Prism'' is a solid return to mathy form. Although 12 years is a long hiatus, it's hardly noticeable that time has passed, with the exception of a few machinery and personnel updates [...] Along with getting mathy and ultra-precise, the band takes the opposite approach and elongates passages, stretching songs into psychedelic [space rock](/source/space_rock) territory and surpassing the eight-minute mark on several occasions. As an album, ''In Prism'' may not quite live up to the explosiveness of ''[Today's Active Lifestyles](/source/Today's_Active_Lifestyles)'' -- it's more like the calmer (and produced) ''[Shapes](/source/Shapes_(album))''. But even if it's not their best ever, it's a valid comeback that should appease longing fans." Despite a middling score, John Everheart of [''Under the Radar''](/source/Under_the_Radar_(magazine)) called it "a sprawling, psychedelic masterwork, rife with knotty tangles of discordance and serpentine riffs." Stuart Berman of ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))'' wrote: "''In Prism'' could be the first Polvo album where the melodies leave as lasting an impression as the noise around them, with Bowie tapping into a more guileless mode of expression that rarely revealed itself before."

==Track listing==
#"Right the Relation" - 5:36
#"D.C. Trails" - 6:57
#"Beggar's Bowl" - 5:01
#"City Birds" - 5:21
#"Lucia" - 8:15
#"Dream Residue/Work" - 5:48
#"The Pedlar" - 3:37
#"A Link in the Chain" - 8:47

== Personnel ==
Polvo are credited as the primary artists & producers. The remaining credits are adapted from [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic):

* Chris Eubank - Cello
* [River Guerguerian](/source/River_Guerguerian) - Percussion
* [Brian Paulson](/source/Brian_Paulson) - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
* Alan Douches - Mastering
* Julian Dreyer - Assistant Engineer
* Michael Klayman - Photography
* Ashley Worley - Photography
* Gordon Zacharias - Photography

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Polvo}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Polvo albums
Category:2009 albums
Category:Merge Records albums

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [In Prism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Prism) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Prism?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.