Album Review: Pom Poko - Birthday

Unleashing their first album, Pom Poko take their inspiration from an oddball anime bearing the same name. These quirky young Norwegians simply toss an eclectic range of influential genres into a powerful blender to arrive at boisterous dance-punk, power-pop noise which they seem to pull together effortlessly.

Much of this album is powered by blasts of guitar noise that aren’t headache-inducing as massive hard-rocking riffs laden with pop hooks drill their way into our skulls. Closer listening reveals intricate arrangements and a certain compositional finesse that reflect their education at the Trondheim Music Conservatory. Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit’s shrieking vocals are childishly sweet but they also have a riot grrrl vicious edge in a way that brings to mind Le Tigre.

Birthday doesn’t feature a single moment of melancholy introspection. Instead, Pom Poko power this album with a load of personality and infectiously energetic joie de vivre, ensuring it delivers fun times.