Last November when Jay-Z posted Polica’s ‘Lay Your Cards Out’ on his huge Life + Times blog, things haven’t slowed down for them. The band is formed of 4 of the 20+ members from 2010’s popular indie R’n’B outfit Gayngs, driven by the main member Ryan Olson adding his amazing production skills to their debut album, Give You The Ghost which was released in February this year.
Hearing this fantastic debut, there is a huge sense of ease with the auto-tuned vocals from lead-girl Channy Leaneagh. This production method is not usually the first thing on most producers’ minds since it has featured so prominently in the charts for the last 5 years. However, POLIÇA showed it works on the album and it definitely works live. With the album only written and recorded in 2 weeks after a heavy divorce, the band gave off the confidence of one that had already been around the world touring it.
Leaneagh’s voice through the reverbed sound of the underground venue of CAMP Basement couldn’t have hit the crowd better, giving this venue the perfect match of music. With half of the band two drum kits, which I loved on the album, I was so thankful to see their multiple symbols crash over the albums big songs Amongster, Lay Your Cards Out and The Maker. This is where I noticed a difference from anything else out on the live scene at the moment; there could have been a risk with overriding the vocals and bass through these drums, but the band dynamic was in unison and the results were astounding.
There was so much control for a debut gig, confidence was brimming as Leaneagh posed and moved throughout each song with great modesty reminding us of Cocteau Twin’s Elizabeth Fraser. Who would have thought auto-tune would have this effect on people after its awful reputation? Well, after these two sold out shows POLIÇA will be back in November. I imagine there will be a few more members and they will show even more capability of what a great and exciting band they are.