Album Review: Polica - Shulamith

“I was trying to build myself up and get strong and be assertive. It's a little bit rawer; I'm a little bit angrier and a little less victim,” claims Poliça's Channy Leaneagh of her approach to her band's second album, Shulamith. If only the results matched the intention. The icy, spacious sound of last year's Give You The Ghost has been embellished with surplus electronic padding, softening the impact of Leaneagh's angsty musings. More disco-y it may be, but with less bite, as can be heard on Very Cruel, with its squelchy bass that obviously aims to menace but falls flat, much like a badly judged Halloween costume.

There's still evidence of good songwriting here. Check Chain My Name. It's a superficially positive banger – I say superficially as it bounces the listener all around the room with its solid bass and bells, but is packed with Leaneagh's usual themes of conflict and failed relationships – and is a great single. Tiff too is well written, featuring guest vocals from mega-fan Justin Vernon of Bon Iver (Poliça are the “best band” he's ever heard apparently; way to blag yourself a guest slot Justin), but a better approach might've been that found on Drake producer Doc McKinney's non-album remix, which illuminated Leaneagh's delivery with sparse yet imposing beats.

In 2012, Poliça gave us ...The Ghost, a chillingly effective debut. In 2013, they've given us something of a missed opportunity.