New Memphis Industries Signings Poliça

New Memphis Industries Signings Poliça

“Poliça deals in a type of R&B inflected electronic music that defies explanation.... Music with this many synthetic textures and vocal treatments has rarely sounded so natural.” Spinner
“A swirly combination of layered rhythms, some awesomely manipulated vocals and a dragged-out, slow motion feel....the perfect soundtrack to an almost-winter weekend” NYLON
“Ryan Olson and singer Channy Leanagh lead the group, Channy front and centre with her potently echoed voice riding over forward drums and driving bass” The Fader

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-outThe 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. First sashaying single proper ‘Lay Your Cards Out’ features Mike Noyce of Bon Iver on vocals and is equally as deliciously funk laden as it is 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.

Poliça will be playing a handful of shows at this year’s SXSW, more details to follow soon.