Poliça – Give you the Ghost

Universally recognised as one of the best albums of 2012, Poliça’s Give you the Ghost cannot be pigeonholed one way or another. A shimmering tour de force which transcends indie rock, trance among other genres, this record will sound fresh to listeners of all backgrounds and will hopefully be remembered for its originality and mastery of many music elements for years to come.

From beginning to end the album contorts through a range of styles, blended together in polyphonic surf. There are no seams between tracks; sounds ebb and flow and immerse the listener, especially through patches of trance that hypnotise and relax. The opener, Amongster, is a good example – crescendos come and go but the tight-knit rhythms course throughout. If ever there was an album designed for headphones, this would be it. It is a joy to sit back in a peaceful zone and switch on the record – nothing has been so compelling and serene in equal measure.

Although Poliça’s debut is ambient, it is also beautifully haunting. Violent Games thunders along ominously, while one of the album’s highlights, Dark Star, cries out through a tale of twisted love. All the while throughout a serpent of a record the steady basslines and drums carry the dwindling melodies and raw lyrics.

The vocals by Channy Leaneagh are warped and drawn by auto-tune, filling every corner of the songs’ soundscapes acting as a foil to the instruments. All these noises are interchangeable and swell as one mix, as does the album. It is a fine skill which blows away and draws thoughtful reflection throughout, how many albums have recently managed to do that? This heads on another tangent that delivers rich rewards for those wanting something a little different.

For a taste of the innovate side of the year, start with Poliça. It makes a fine entrance to 2012’s alternative catalogue.