CHVRCHEShas pretty much everything I need in to order to commit to a band: chick singer with dude backups, some electronic goings on, list Prince & Depeche Mode as one of their primary influences, possess UK passports, and most importantly: Scottish residency. I was fortunate enough to see Glasgow natives, CHVRCHES, by accident (they had only JUST formed) while I was living in Scotland and have loved them ever since--- even though they haven't had much music for purchasing via the internet. I am happily awaiting their EP next month in the US. In the meantime, I've used my still-active UK itunes to download a few things. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry kind of reminds me of Hayley Williams-- in a good way. She's also a lawyer...and a journalist-- so watch the fuck out. Iain Cook & Martin Doherty, on the other hand, are sort of a Scottish indie rock mainstays-- having previously founded Aereogramme & The Unwinding Hours and The Twilight Sad, respectively. CHVRCHES spent most of 2012 on tour with Passion Pit. Personally, I'd like to see them go out with Polica. That's a concert I'd jump to see. Even without Polica, I'm still planning on seeing them here in LA at the Echoplex on March 12th. See you there?? They're also the first band I've seen to have the good sense to take promo photos in front of the Scottish National Galleries neon installations by Nathan Coley. For more, check out here and here. And a Prince cover!
As I'm looking back over this year and making my Best Of lists, I realize I never talked about one of my favorite albums of the year. It will surely be on my Best of 2012 Albums list, but I thought I'd devote some proper space to it here.
As Poliça, for all their European mood & sound, is a band from Minneapolis. Fronted by Channy Leaneagh-- part gamine, part enigma; depending on the light-- Poliça came together after her last band died and has only been in existence for about two years. In that time, they've managed to record "Give You The Ghost" an album as moody and ethereal as the name would suggest.(Or alienating-- in a good way-- as one reviewer coined. I'd agree. There is lot of distancing, refracted distortion and unapologetic use of autotune, not that we're not used to that by now.) But Poliça (the name means policy in Polish) also has some authority to it. And the non-stop lap beats don't hurt. It's my favorite night driving album of the year. I didn't even really appreciate it until I got here. From their initial appeal in their hometown, followed by a pretty legendary SXSW showing, they've basically been touring the US and Europe ever since. If I were still living in London, I'd go see them there in March. Or maybe I'd use it as an excuse for a trip to Paris. They're the perfect band to see on a winter Paris night. "Lay Your Cards Out" may or may not be my favorite song on the album. It's hard to decide. But perhaps you've heard it. It's been making the rounds. Enjoy.
