Polica
Sweet Lights
Sat, March 24, 2012
Doors: 7:30 pm / Show: 8:00 pm
Kungfu Necktie
Philadelphia, PA
$10.00
Sold Out
This event is 21 and over
http://www.r5productions.com/event/88857/
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Polica
Minneapolis continues its golden run of producing quality talent with the first project to arrive out the Gayngs collective, the super slick electronic pop-soul outfit Poliça. Fronted by ice cool vocalist Channy Leanagh who sang with Gayngs, produced by Ryan Olson and featuring Mike Noyce from Bon Iver, it’s a who’s who of the current Twin Cities scene. Continuing the tradition of having friends in high places with Prince and Kanye West among Gayngs fans, Poliça have already been backed by none other than Jay Z who posted their video for the new for single ‘Lay Your Cards Out’ on his Life + Times blog: http://lifeandtimes.com/lifetimes-video-premier-polica-lay-your-cards-out
After collaborating in the studio and live with Gayngs in 2010, it became apparent that Channy and Ryan should form a group of their own. “As touring progressed and Channy got more comfortable with the band and singing the songs, she would reinvent the parts she was doing in brilliant ways. It made me want to see where else she could go” explains Olson. Ryan’s pop sensibilities and electronic adventurism would prove to be the perfect vehicle for Channy’s recent growth and evolution as a vocalist and dynamic experimentalist. In June 2011, they began writing together what would become Poliça’s debut album, Give You The Ghost.
The result is 11 perfectly formed auto-tuned songs that re-shape the intersection of pop and digitised R&B. And for all Poliça’s synthetic manipulation, Channy’s soft vocals and Ryan’s electronic soundscapes reveal a tender heart beneath, pulsating with life and raw emotion. Give You The Ghost opens with the attention grabbing sonic of first track ‘Amongster’, the two drummers immediately coming into full effect as it builds to a heady mass of beats, bass and Channy’s wandering vocals. ‘Violent Games’ continues the heavy on the drums theme, with duelling beats that intensify to machine gun-like levels, led by Channy’s urgent and cyclical vocals “Tremble at the taste of / Tremble at the taste of / Tremble at the taste of in his hands”.
Born out of the break-up of a recent relationship, the majority of Give You The Ghost reflects the difficulty of facing up to your mistakes and making peace with them; an exorcism via exciting new musical possibilities. “The recurring theme of this record is ‘what in the hell just happened and who in the hell am I anyways’” says Channy. This redemptive mood is key for the track ‘Dark Star’, released online late last year amidst a viral whirlwind. Backed by smooth brass breakdowns throughout and mid-tempo loping rhythms, it’s typical of Poliça’s often meditative content fused with the addictive refrain “Ain’t a man who can pull me down from my Dark Star”.
First sashaying single proper ‘Lay Your Cards Out’ and the dreamy ‘Wandering Star’ both feature Mike Noyce of Bon Iver on vocals and are equally as deliciously funk laden as they are hypnotic, with more ratatat drums from Ben Ivascu and Drew Christopherson, propelling the lush arrangements and slinky bass, provided by Chris Bierden.
The name Poliça refers to the word ‘policy’, meaning a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, suggesting they were formed out of necessity. Which is exactly how this album feels and sounds; urgent, original and genre defying, Poliça are absolutely essential in 2012.
After collaborating in the studio and live with Gayngs in 2010, it became apparent that Channy and Ryan should form a group of their own. “As touring progressed and Channy got more comfortable with the band and singing the songs, she would reinvent the parts she was doing in brilliant ways. It made me want to see where else she could go” explains Olson. Ryan’s pop sensibilities and electronic adventurism would prove to be the perfect vehicle for Channy’s recent growth and evolution as a vocalist and dynamic experimentalist. In June 2011, they began writing together what would become Poliça’s debut album, Give You The Ghost.
The result is 11 perfectly formed auto-tuned songs that re-shape the intersection of pop and digitised R&B. And for all Poliça’s synthetic manipulation, Channy’s soft vocals and Ryan’s electronic soundscapes reveal a tender heart beneath, pulsating with life and raw emotion. Give You The Ghost opens with the attention grabbing sonic of first track ‘Amongster’, the two drummers immediately coming into full effect as it builds to a heady mass of beats, bass and Channy’s wandering vocals. ‘Violent Games’ continues the heavy on the drums theme, with duelling beats that intensify to machine gun-like levels, led by Channy’s urgent and cyclical vocals “Tremble at the taste of / Tremble at the taste of / Tremble at the taste of in his hands”.
Born out of the break-up of a recent relationship, the majority of Give You The Ghost reflects the difficulty of facing up to your mistakes and making peace with them; an exorcism via exciting new musical possibilities. “The recurring theme of this record is ‘what in the hell just happened and who in the hell am I anyways’” says Channy. This redemptive mood is key for the track ‘Dark Star’, released online late last year amidst a viral whirlwind. Backed by smooth brass breakdowns throughout and mid-tempo loping rhythms, it’s typical of Poliça’s often meditative content fused with the addictive refrain “Ain’t a man who can pull me down from my Dark Star”.
First sashaying single proper ‘Lay Your Cards Out’ and the dreamy ‘Wandering Star’ both feature Mike Noyce of Bon Iver on vocals and are equally as deliciously funk laden as they are hypnotic, with more ratatat drums from Ben Ivascu and Drew Christopherson, propelling the lush arrangements and slinky bass, provided by Chris Bierden.
The name Poliça refers to the word ‘policy’, meaning a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, suggesting they were formed out of necessity. Which is exactly how this album feels and sounds; urgent, original and genre defying, Poliça are absolutely essential in 2012.
Sweet Lights
Sweet Lights aka Shai Halperin cut his teeth as lead songsmith for The Capitol Years, a long time Philadelphia fixture that saw members of The War on Drugs, Nightlands, and others pass through its ranks. The band enjoyed varied critical accolades including a BBC 2 Single of the Week, an appearance at the Glastonbury Festival, and high praise from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. The Capitol Years toured extensively supporting the likes of The Walkmen, the Pixies and Daniel Johnston. Sparked by his cover version of Johnston's "True Love Will Find You in the End", Shai developed a close working relationship with the legendary outsider artist, one which lead to The Capitol Years joining Johnston on several tours as well as on stage performing backing band duties.
Sweet Lights was sparked by an initial flurry of home recording which lead to 2 albums worth of new compositions. With more songs than bandmates to learn them, Shai began recording all the instruments himself, and Sweet Lights was born.
Sweet Lights - Sweet Lights is a masterful mix of dynamic, harmony-soaked song craft, innovative arrangements and surreal lyricism. With a hint of ELO here and a splash of Beach House there, the album shifts shapes and vibes from one song to the next. Making its way from the bedroom studio to the pages of MOJO (4 stars) and Uncut (8/10), Sweet Lights has now become a live show, alternating between onemanband performances and full band freakouts.
Sweet Lights was sparked by an initial flurry of home recording which lead to 2 albums worth of new compositions. With more songs than bandmates to learn them, Shai began recording all the instruments himself, and Sweet Lights was born.
Sweet Lights - Sweet Lights is a masterful mix of dynamic, harmony-soaked song craft, innovative arrangements and surreal lyricism. With a hint of ELO here and a splash of Beach House there, the album shifts shapes and vibes from one song to the next. Making its way from the bedroom studio to the pages of MOJO (4 stars) and Uncut (8/10), Sweet Lights has now become a live show, alternating between onemanband performances and full band freakouts.