Album Review: Pond - The Weather

27 April 2017 | 3:33 pm | Christopher H James

"It's a fine example of a new twinkling, retro-futuristic vision."

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The world must be in a chronic state if happy-go-lucky stargazers Pond are embracing the end of it.

"30,000 megatons is just what we deserve," they declare convincingly over gargantuan synth tones that vibrate like the rocket boosters of a departing space craft on The Weather's opener. Accredited space cadets, Pond may have seemed like one of the last bands to develop socially conscious leanings, but on Edge Of The World and elsewhere, they do it in their own surreal way - not so much offering solutions, but more letting their stream of consciousness approach become an outlet for fear and confusion at the global pandemic of tragedy and upheaval.

Despite this, there are several moments of pure pop genius. It's said that nine months after a natural disaster the birth rate shoots up, and the impending apocalypse seems to have ignited the band's collective libido on the breathlessly romantic Sweep Me Off My Feet. It's a fine example of a new twinkling, retro-futuristic vision midwifed by producer and long time associate Kevin Parker that's so fresh, it's revitalising. Maybe political crises and the scaly coils of doom should encircle our beleaguered planet more often if albums this good are going to come of it.