POLICA’s sell-out show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire (part of their current world tour) can be best described as atmospheric. But, this is not the sort of show that has the audience chanting along with the lyrics, or even developing the usual over-excitement of a sold-out gig – instead, this Minneapolis-based unit is sending 2000 people into a trance-like state, drifting and swaying to lead singer Channy Leaneagh’s soaring vocal acrobatics, Chris Bierden’s phenomenal bass grooves and the multiple rhythmic layers created by the band’s two drummers.

“I’m all out of sorts tonight,” says Channy, almost apologetically to the crowd. She needn’t worry, as she and her band are on top form this evening, with soundscape-like tracks such as “Lay Your Cards Out” enchanting their captive audience. The stage is set out minimally but the band offer a lot visually, with each member’s personality projected to the crowd through their individual performances.

Polica are cheered back onto the stage for an encore, for which they play a brand new song (seemingly unnamed as of yet), which proves just as enthralling as their better known tracks. The crowd leave satisfied with their dose of top drawer ambient indie-electro, and the band continue on with their global domination. We can’t wait to catch them again in the UK later this year – keep your eyes and ears peeled – and, in the meantime, warm yourself up with their brilliant debut album “Give You the Ghost.”

(Photos by Cameron Wittig)