Bright and optimistic, Paulusma’s sophomore album Fingers & Thumbs highlights both her talent and her potential. Polly’s voice has a delicate depth, at times reminiscent of the playful childishness of Joanna Newsom. Aside from vocals and guitar, she also handles the keys on the album, the presence of which is most evident on her closing track “Matilda,” a solo vocal/piano ballad. Equally as moving is the title track, a solo tune whose subtle guitar embodies its lyrics: “We talk in fingers and thumbs / in an ancient Braille of ache and overflow.” Yet Fingers & Thumbs is by no means a collection of ballads; a majority of the songs comprising the album have much more of an indie feel; the result of Polly’s electric guitar work, which distances her from the acoustic female singer/songwriter stereotype. The passion is not only present within the soft and dark crannies of Paulusma’s voice - it is present with a definitive sincerity characteristic of those using their art as an outlet. A prominent influence for the album was the birth of Paulusma’s child Valentine, “who was conceived as we began rehearsals and who was born as the final mix was completed” (liner notes). There are many obvious parallels between the processes of child birth and album creation/completion. Polly has drawn from it, and has foreshadowed a coming into her own in progress - yet another parallel between music and life.
--Bill Braun
