POND

Beard, Wives, Denim
Spinning Top Music / Modular

Over the course of 12 absorbing tracks, local psych-funksters Pond pummel with the poise of a late-night funk infomercial—journeying through Motown soul and trippy texture in equal portions.

The ghosts of Sly and Curtis Mayfield are heard in the slinky grooves, and Electric Ladyland and Maggot Brain sound to have played a part in shaping Pond’s stoney decadence. It’s just that ability to emulate the sound of its heroes that makes Beard, Wives, Denim a fun, diverting trip through the pleasures of a wildly excessive genre.

At a compact 54 minutes, Beard, Wives, Denim is over before it gets irritating, leaving you with an impression of fuzzed-out fronted by a gale-force falsetto. The latter belongs to Pond’s primary weapon, Nick Allbrook, who treats every track as an invitation to swing, vocally at least, from the chandeliers. The rest of his motley crew play effortlessly, at times laying it down all mellow and sexy (Elegant Design) and in others funking it up with acidity (Fantastic Explosions Of Time).

The production is bright, loud and impressive, and brings each track into sharp relief, even with all the heavy talent on hand. The overall feel is like a huge, slap-happy family reunion with different musicians in friendly competition to see who can be the funkiest. Weird, wild, wonderful stuff.

_JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD

xpressradio by X-Press Magazine

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