Alan Sparhawk, Circuit Des Yeux, et Poliça

Poliça....is it a Latinate name for the local force, the Spanish bobby? Apparently not. According to the Minneapolis five-piece the name is Polish for “policy”, an unwritten code that the band members live and record by, and it’s certainly done them just fine so far after two albums and a series of much-talked-about live performances. 2012’s Give You the Ghost and 2013’s Shulamith marked Poliça out as a top-notch electronic pop band with more than a hint of recycled trip hop to their remarkable rhythms. Producer and general recluse Ryan Olsen (he refuses to appear live with the band) describes the music as “Drums, bass, synths, me, women” and that’s a pretty fair reflection of what you hear when you see this band live. You’re immediately taken by the stage presence of the elfin Channy Leaneagh, who writhes and dances in front of her banks of synths before unleashing her stunning voice, which is often treated with effects that only make the impact that more powerful. Poliça use two drummers when playing live, and their timing is impeccable; you will never catch Drew Christopherson and Ben Ivascu out of step with each other and this means that tracks like ‘Dark Star’, ‘Lay Your Cards Out’ and the clattering ‘Chain My Name’ become powerful beyond what’s on the record, but never overpowering the captivating Leaneagh. Given Leaneagh’s passion for feminism it’s always worth sticking around for a Polica encore as you’ll hear a cover of Lesley Gore’s ‘You Don’t Own Me’. It’s stunning simply for her naked vocal, reminding you that while you can throw all the instrumentation you like at a live show, the singer will always be the star when she’s got a voice that’ll stop you in your tracks.