Album Review

New Young Pony Club – Fantastic Playroom

16th May 2007

The lightly scattered, soul-pushing vocal command of Tahita possesses such a life-bearing, buy soothingly provocative profile. The rest of the band seems to spend the early part of this debut album, trying to find the right groove, mood and pitch to complement the nimble vocals. Therefore, the No Doubt spiked opener ‘Get Lucky’, with its cosmopolitan kick, still has a lingering, lost vibe that will have you willing New Young Pony Club to shake it off like it’s a dog try to molest their leg. The snappy lyrics concealing ‘Hiding On The Staircase’, whilst being delivered with a rumbling jungle backing punch and R N’ B based strut by Tahita, still lacks any significant drive or cohesion.

The slotting of this band into the NU-Rave pigeon hole in order to broaden this new craze out, leads to some confusion given the fact this product packs more of a relaxed lounge/dance slap. This, of course, is a good thing, as when the craze starts to fizzle out this quaint quintet will have their own direction and identity to help keep them afloat. Shades of the provocation and cockiness of Salt N’ Peppa, spices up matters in the digitally intoned four minute foray ‘The Bomb’. This let’s the bass of Igor ride free and it is the perfect bedfellow for the deeper female vocal range, providing ample opportunity for gyration and reflection. Leading neatly into a thudding and sparse funk out, ‘Jerk Me’ where the flitting range of Tahita lends a surprise and slightly lurid element. The glow sticks will be well and truly kept down for this one, in a live environment. Intervals of Robots In Disguise vibes, through the likes of ‘Talking, Talking’ gives this full length focus and instils some bracing, slow building ambience.

Provocative phonetic foolery is oozed out with stammering effect in ‘Fan’. Whilst the lyrics contain poignant life nut-shelling to make you stop what you’re doing and nod relentlessly in approval;

“Life’s a see-saw; you’ve forgotten how the top becomes the bottom.
In time, you’ll find out. “

If only the first part of the album could have used such range, mood, provocation and poignancy. Then the debut album of the year tag would have to have been tattooed onto each member of this band.