Like so many of us the song “Dark Star” by Poliça inhabits a recognizable duality. Its public face, if not pristine, then at least scrubbed clean, makes itself presentable. By turns, it offers small cordial conversation and laughs at your inane jokes. But the private face, it is pallid and it doesn’t sleep well among the echoing ghosts haunting a disheveled parlor. “Dark Star,” in-between the brassy horns, scintillating bass, and voodoo drum-work there is the centerpiece of Channy Caselle-Leaneagh‘s voice. A voice on which this debut album draw its connective tissue and hangs flesh. Throughout every song, there is a soul with a dark mood too. It is the same mood which inhabits a song and draws you down, much like the Joy Division’s “Heart and Soul,” Peter Murphy’s “Cut You Up” or The Cure’s “Disintegration.” We all know this place, and although it appears dark, it is also a place of quiet strength. It’s very hard to resist a song like this, because it speaks to us in hushed comforting whispers. And, while we at times damn ourselves for whatever reasons, a song like this says, “I got you,” and we lean our head on its cold, yet sturdy shoulder. Peace.
Poliça will release their debut LP, Give You the Ghost, on February 14th via Totally Gross National Project. Also, check their songs “Lay Your Cards Out” (feat. Mike Noyce) and “Wandering Star.” Enjoy.