New Music Tuesday

New Young Pony Club has finally gotten around to following their great 2007 album Fantastic Playground. The new album is called The Optimist, and it is available digitally as of today. The band have self produced and released it themselves in Europe and PIAS are helping them get it out to the rest of the world. Their debut was a nice mix of disco and post-punk riffing, mostly a blueprint ripped from the early '80s, topped off with Ty Bulmer's sassy/snotty vocal stylings. With The Optimist they pretty much pick up where they left off - big beats, shiny riffs, loads of funktastic bass and catchy songs all over the place. It has a grittier edge to it, and is more of an adult pop record than the last one. I really like it. The band have offered up a bonus track to share with you, a Ty Bulmer remix of the album track We Want To. It's a tasty death-disco romp - enjoy!

New Young Pony Club - We Want 2

New Music Tuesday - New Young Pony Club

New Young Pony Club's debut LP Fantstic Playroom hits US stores today. I came across a leak of it three or four months ago and have literally not stopped playing it since. The MO of this British 5 piece is simple - they are post-punk revisionists. They really don't bring anything new and exciting to the table, except for some exceptionally catchy songs. Which is a good thing because it saves the album from being a pointless retread. Elements of your all my fave '80s bands are represented, from the Talking Heads to Gang Of Four to The Cure to the B52s. The band whips up a tasty melange of disco, funk and new wave, much like CSS. Lead singer Tahita Bulmer is a driving force here, with vocals that range from breathy coos to shout-y rage, and there is a certain snottiness to it that I really dig. The sassy and sexy lyrics and sharp, contemporary production have kept me entertained all summer and show no signs of wearing out their welcome. Here are a couple of primo examples of why you should own this record; The Bomb is one of the harder edged tunes, all sharp riffs and sweet "ah-ha-s". Grey is a mellow groover, Cure-ish synth pop with a vintage Peter Hook bass riff and a chorus harmonies that totally remind me of Cindy & Kate from the B52s. Mmm-mmm good.