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Group Members: Channy Leaneagh (vocals) Ryan Olson (producer/songwriter)
Touring Band: Chris Bierden (bass/vocals) Drew Christopherson (drums) Ben Ivascu (drums)
Genre: Synth-pop, indie-electronic, trip-hop Similar Artists: Bat For Lashes, Grimes, Purity Ring,Twin Shadow, Porcelain Raft Similar Bonnaroo Artists: Chvrches, Haerts, Ms Mr, Warpaint, Darkside Influences: Portishead, Massive Attack, Air, Cocteau Twins, Bjork
Trivia: Poliça is pronounced POL-EE-SA, with a soft C
Biography On the surface Poliça may appear to be just another synth-pop band but their story and their sound offer much more. Before Poliça, the pair had worked together when Ryan Olson recruited Channy Leaneagh as a backing singer for his 10cc-inspired musical collective Gayngs. Olson sensed there was more to come from Leaneagh and asked her to work with him on some material he was working on. Leaneagh had just split from her husband and bandmate (Alexei Moon Casselle of folk-rockers Roma Di Luna) and saw the collaboration with Olson as a creative release during an obviously turbulent time. Olson put down some beats and Leaneagh freestyled over them and Poliça was born. Within a few weeks of forming Poliça had their debut, Give You The Ghost, written and recorded. Just over twelve months later, second album Shulamith followed. While there was progression from the debut, both albums share common themes; paranoid, claustrophobic, nocturnal but only occasional but beautiful glimmers of light. Vocally Channy Leaneagh is fantastic and Olson's beats are the perfect foil for her to shine. Poliça stand out from their contemporaries because Olson and Leaneagh can independently demonstrate fragility and aggression, a juxtaposition few electronic bands offer.
Major Discography
Give You The Ghost (2012)
Shulamith (2013)
Suggested Listening Both albums are of equal merit in my opinion. The second is probably a little more upbeat so that could well be the better gateway record. As with a lot of textured music the songs aren't immediate and may require a few spins before you really dig them - give them that chance and you won't regret it.
Here are some YouTube clips to get you going....
Physical Reaction/Live Show I've seen Poliça twice so I'm comfortable in recommending their show. The first time was at a regular 200-capacity no thrills basement. The band were excellent and Channy Leaneagh is a great frontwoman. There was no real light show to speak of which allowed the music to take centre stage and Poliça really delivered. More pertinently, the second time was a 4pm outdoor slot at Rock En Seine. The pleasant Paris sun did not detract from the show at all; the band looked and sounded amazing and had improved from the first time I saw them. They debuted a couple from the then unreleased second LP and I can't wait to see those songs again having spent some time with them. I expect the set will still be a mix of both albums. Ideally they will get a late Thursday show, (immediately before Darkside would suit me down to the ground) but I won't be put off if they play during the day.
Personal Notes I'm really looking forward to this. In truth, I was late to the Band a Day signups so didn't get anything on my unmissable list but Poliça are right up there on the longlist. I've spent a lot of time playing the records and thinking about them and it has made me more excited to see them again.
I honestly have not listened to them at all. But your choices of similar artists & influences peaks my interest. I will listen to them on my way home from work! Great review!!
Just saw them this afternoon (free show at my University). It was an outdoor show and they were clearly having some issues with keeping the vocals well balanced. But the bassist was really into it! I felt like Leaneagh could have had a bit more of the stage presence. Other than that, it was a pretty fun show.
Post by chemicalbrother on Jun 3, 2014 22:27:35 GMT -5
I'm also very excited for this show. though I'm a bigger fan of their debut than the followup. This into Break Science is the highlight of my anticipated thursday.
I'm also very excited for this show. though I'm a bigger fan of their debut than the followup. This into Break Science is the highlight of my anticipated thursday.
I'm also very excited for this show. though I'm a bigger fan of their debut than the followup. This into Break Science is the highlight of my anticipated thursday.
Its Break Science into Polica
my bad. I had thought I wasn't going to make it thursday , so I'd really avoided looking into it too closely. I just remembered they were back to back. Thank you for the correction sir. I need to get on the damn ball it seems.
Post by chemicalbrother on Jun 4, 2014 21:02:41 GMT -5
Alright,this may make me sound stupid, but I'm gonna say it anyways. Up until this thread I had only listened to this band. Not seen one video, live or otherwise. But this thread explains a little about why I dig this band a lot, and why I've been dying to see them live for a bit. I'm not a drummer or anything, and while I love Channy's voice( as effect laden as it it at times), what absolutely grabbed me about this band was the percussion. The layers and complexities of the beats blow my mind. The builds and runs just plain move me. And I was always curious how one drummer could even do this, if he did, and was dying to find out.
Now I know the answer. They don't. Two drummers are needed to recreate these beats live. And because of this thread, I've since found that originally they were all programmed beats by Olson for the recordings. But that doesn't detract from the awesomeness of these beats. And I'm really excited to hear them live. The two drummer thing actually helps, as I'm much more excited to hear real drums create these sounds as opposed to programmed recordings and loops.
So kudos for the write-up. And I'm now even more excited to see a band I've wanted to see live since their debut anyways.
And no the first time I replied to this thread I didn't watch any of the videos first, so yes i just figured all this out 5 minutes ago.
Post by crippledcamel on Jun 4, 2014 21:08:03 GMT -5
chemicalbrother You took the words out of my mouth. I'm pretty excited to see them too.. I also thought it was a drummer on the recordings. Until recently, I thought they were a "band" and not just one person that writes all the music and has a live backing band. Still, I'm very anxious to watch these two drummers in action
chemicalbrother You took the words out of my mouth. I'm pretty excited to see them too.. I also thought it was a drummer on the recordings. Until recently, I thought they were a "band" and not just one person that writes all the music and has a live backing band. Still, I'm very anxious to watch these two drummers in action
