Poliça – Shulamith
Mom + Pop
★★★★ (out of 5 stars)
From album opener “Chain My Name,” – a late-’80s-inspired synth-pop hit that glides like an edgier Cause & Effect – the way-stylish aesthetic of this connected, Gayngs-affiliated Minneapolis group is clearly taking a pronounced stride toward pop appeal with their anticipated sophomore LP. But like that pop-perfect song attests beyond all its time-stamped trappings, none of this has diminished Poliça’s impact. Other excellent instances of their robot seduction include the gorgeous future-soul of “I Need $,” the digital ominousness of “Very Cruel,” the astral slow jam of “Tiff (feat. Justin Vernon)” and the smooth midnight breaks of “Spilling Lines.” Although a step away from the restless, forward edge of their debut, Poliça’s electro-pop vision is darker and deeper than Phantogram’s, and possibly even sexier than the xx’s. And Poliça remains one of today’s most alluring, dynamic and precise pop acts.
