Pond’s eighth album is magically melodic and exceptionally eclectic. The only downside to the album is the truth it tells. The world’s getting warmer and according to an environmental scientist Nick Albrock met at a bar, the only habitable place to live in Australia in 100 years will be Tasmania. That’s where Pond escape to in their latest psychedelic creation.
Throughout the album, the psych-rock band meander through different styles and genres having confidently experimented with anything and everything when recording their previous seven albums. In “Tasmania”, Albrock’s vocals are reminiscent of Prince and the poppy tones and funky bass would almost have us fooled. Tracks like “Selené” on the other hand are more akin to Tame Impala with some funky embellishments.
Despite its poppy feel, the lyrics of the album are actually quite profound and depressing. There is an acute awareness of where the world is heading and the title track surrenders to this feeling. “I might, I might go shack up in Tasmania,” Albrock sings. “Before the ozone goes / And paradise burns in Australia / Who knows? Who knows?” In “Hand Mouth Dancer” Albrock self-reflects and self-criticizes the futility of talking about politics. “So you got political, Can you speak on that? / I didn’t get political, I just faced the facts / Is it critical we react?” The track has a unique flavor and the minimal and simplistic synth is effective and pleasing.
“Shame” on the other hand is more of a ballad. The focus is on the poetry of the lyrics and to begin with, there is little but Watson’s raw vocals. The strange noises in the background sound like they were pulled from Thom Yorke’s recycling bin but slowly the track builds and we get sucked in. It’s weird and interesting and shows that Pond aren’t afraid to try new things and that they are more than a spacey Tame Impala side-project.
The album’s finale “Doctor’s In” has a strong opening. It pulls us in and then Pond play around with melodies in a way we haven’t seen much of before. It’s the perfect closer to a melodic and intriguing album which is arguably some of the band’s most impressive work yet.
4/5
