It has been just over one year since the psychedelic brothers from Perth and counterpart of Tame Impala released their critically acclaimed fourth album Beards, Wives, Denim . Now Pond has finished its fifth album, and it’s called Hobo Rocket .
Having released two songs “ Giant Tortoise “ and “ Xanman ” prior to the streaming of Hobo Rocket, there were definitely expectations of a heavier rock ‘n’ roll album with the twist of Allbrooks/Ponds’ quirkiness.
The opening track “ Whatever Happened To The Million Head Collide “ reaches all expectations from the opening bass line which rolls into soft guitar and ” Whatever happen when a million heads collide,” backed by deep drums which all slowly builds into an epic guitar riff. The song is structured around the head-banging guitar riff that is backed with piano, drums, bass and more guitar. It grows into a full rampaging instrumental that leads into a brass meddle.
“Xanman” was released prior to Hobo Rocket and is a heavy track which builds around an up-beat guitar riff and Pond’s touch of pop that is incorporated though Allbrooks vocals.
Pond – O Dharma from Krang Doogs on Vimeo .
“ O Dharma “ settles you down after being bombarded with guitar riffs and heavy bass and drums. Its soothing acoustic guitar and vocals are gradually layered with electric guitar and bass.
“When you know you’re like that, you just can’t help yourself. When your feet walk back and crush the flowers in the earth. When your love turns black and everything looks grey. When your life goes back and you’ve got nothing left to say”
They sing with immense passion, before a sitar takes out the track.
We snap back to the heavy darkness of “ Alonaflameaflower “ after the dreamy sounds of “O Dharma”. A singular distorted and heavy guitar riff is followed by draining screams, rhythm guitar, bass and keys which fade down a little to make way for darker lyrics: “Whatever I’m doing here, its not fair. Wasting water and wasting air”. The heavy slow jam slowly ascends into a battling 2-minute instrumental.
A singular chiming bell that brings out “Aloneaflameaflower” brings in previously released “Giant Tortoise”. The verses in “Giant Tortoise” are much lighter sounding and they slowly transcend into another epic guitar riff.
“ Hobo Rocket “ begins with a countdown to a rocket blast off and talking vocals of what actually sounds like a ‘hobo’, it is sensational! And only a band such as Pond would have the guts and the capability to pull off, a 3-minute blues song with hobo vocals.
“ Midnight Mass (At the Market St Payphone) ,” finishes what is a diverse, heavy, dark, soft and epic album and combines the following descriptions rolling them into the six minute “Midnight Mass”. It becomes hard at times not too mention the incredible similarities between Pond and Pink Floyd especially in “Midnight Mass,” as it posses similar levered synth, guitar and style of vocals in the down-tempo components of the song.
Hobo Rocket has incredible depth and variety in regards to song structure and sound, building into epic guitar riffs and instrumentals that have the potential to blow minds and melt faces.
WORDS BY Blake Creighton
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