POLIÇA

Madness (Memphis Industries)

Poliça are brooding as ever on their electric sixth album, Madness. The tone hasn’t changed a great deal in the 10 years since their debut album Give You The Ghost (think of Sweet Memz, the closing song here, as its distant cousin), but the band’s sound remains unlike any other.

Prominent basslines propel most tracks on Madness, alongside Channy Leaneagh’s undulating, manipulated vocal. Highlights include the building momentum in Violence and the entrancing rhythmic breaks of Away, while the title track is a contemplative lament, juxtaposing Celtic-style strings against an electronic backdrop. Blood would comfortably fit as the soundtrack for the latest Scandi-noir programme, given its haunting vocals, angular percussion and urgent groove.

At just 31 minutes, Madness is shorter than previous Poliça albums, but may be even more impactful. This album provides plenty to get your teeth into once you get past its sombre nature and appreciate Poliça’s unconventional songwriting and innovative use of timbres. 

words ROSANNA LEWIS