In 2018, Poliça’s lead singer and songwriter Channy Leaneagh suffered a shock accident, falling from a roof and smashing the base of her spine. Half of this album was written before the accident, but the second part Leaneagh crafted while facing a gruelling recovery and wearing a brace with limited mobility. The resulting record sees her gaze turned inwards as she examines herself and the resilience she unearthed on a daily basis.
The album feels almost diary-like; with its pulsating synths, opener Driving lists the things Leaneagh dreamed of while bed bound — “Legs running in the tall tear blades” — while the haunting Be Again, which sees Leaneagh reclaim her body, was recorded as she re-learned to sing.
The defiant, poppier Forget Me Now questions a former lover, the pulsating synths becoming heavier and increasingly intense before Leaneagh realises she’s been played one too many times. Stripped-back acoustic ballad Steady weaves in subtle electronic elements with wistful reflection on the glorious moments of motherhood.
The tracks — pre- and post-accident — blend together seamlessly, and one thing is clear: Leaneagh’s strength was there all along.
