This article says Poliça was formed to “escape to a different reality,” and when you really get into Give You The Ghost, that’s absolutely what they accomplish. Autotuned vocals float over deep new wave synths and percussion, in more or less every song. But this trip into the alternate reality runs wild: from intense abandon (“Violent Games”) to more hypnotic grooves (“Lay Your Cards Out”) and back.
Autotune has a strange reputation (probably deserved), but every once in awhile someone uses it in just the right way to twist emotion into otherworldly dreaminess. I think it is safe to assume that the singer, Channy Leaneagh doesn’t need to be autotuned. But that she is feels right, it takes you to that place. Fun yet complex, unique yet inviting, cool yet emotional: there are a lot of contradictions playing off each on Give You The Ghost as well. But like the rampant autotuner, those unexpected contradictions make this one of the best albums of the year.