POLIÇA 'United Crushers' (ALBUM REVIEW)

"..Poliça's sound is so hands-on and heavily immersive; the band have claimed that United Crushers was conceived as “modern protest music”, fashioned in the midst of rioting in its hometown Minneapolis..."

The indelible sound of Poliça has returned in the form of another tenebrous record. United Crushers is the third studio album by the American quintet, an expression of disenfranchisement, self-exploration and raw beauty. 

Despite only forming in 2011, Poliça has created an impressive dent in the alternative rock genre. The band has garnered success at some of the world’s biggest music festivals including Coachella and Glastonbury, as well as performing on the likes of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and Later... With Jools Holland. Three albums down and only 5 years into formation, Poliça is a force to be reckoned with. 

‘Lime Habit’ is the first single release from the album, premiered on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 Music show earlier this year. Steely yet vulnerable, lead singer Channy Leaneagh takes us down a complex road on this record with a tumultuous mix of playful synths and tortured vocals. Bandmates Drew Christopherson, Ben Ivascu, Chris Beirden and producer Ryan Olson collectively wrote the album with Leaneagh in Minneapolis during their first true break from two years of touring. The result is stellar. 

The album is as dense as it is unpredictable - ‘Summer Please’ begins with an obscure synth-ridden opener before breaking into a defiant “I got mine / I’ll be fine” charge, beats hammering and the mood hardening. Leaneagh gets political in ‘Wedding’, as she sings "trigger after trigger, we don't even know we're sick / Leaders, we have none”. Poliça's sound is so hands-on and heavily immersive; the band have claimed that United Crushers was conceived as “modern protest music”, fashioned in the midst of rioting in its hometown Minneapolis. 

Things get punchier with ‘Melting Block’, which features signature crisp rhythms and Leaneagh’s inky vocals. Poliça falls into the alternative, rock, electronic…almost pop genre at times, and it is this fluidity that gives United Crushers its truly unique charm.

Words - Claudia Turnbull

United Crushers is released on Memphis Industries, March 4th

POLIÇA official

Tracklisting;

Summer Please

Lime Habit

Someway

Wedding

Melting Block

Top Coat

Lately

Fish

Berlin

Baby Sucks

Kind

Lose You

Live dates;

Oct 07: Warsaw, Poland - Proxima

Oct 08: Prague, Czech Republic – Rock Café

Oct 11: Zurich, Switerzland – Zurich

Oct 12: Paris, France – Trabendo

Oct 14: Leeds, UK – Stylus

Oct 16: Glasgow, UK – SWG3

Oct 18: Bristol, UK – Anson Rooms

Oct 19: London, UK – Roundhouse

Oct 20: Birmingham, UK – Institute Library

Oct 21: Manchester, UK – The Ritz

Oct 23: Brighton, UK – Concorde 2

Oct 24: Brussels, Belgium – AB

Oct 26: Amsterdam, Holland – Melkweg

Oct 27: Cologne, Germany – Die Kantine

Oct 28: Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp

Oct 29: Hamburg, Germany – Uebel & Gefarlich

Oct 31: Oslo, Norway – Parkteatret

Nov 01: Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser Medis

Nov 02: Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega

Nov 04: Berlin, Germany – Astra

Nov 05: Munich, Germany – Technikum