Saturday 8 October 2022

In The Ponds - Polar Night (EP Review)

Date Released: October 19th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Polar NIght: Tracklisting


1.Lonesome George 02:02

2.Someone's Always Watching

3.Haruki on the Sand


Members


David Perez – guitar

Jennifer Gigantino – bass


Review


In The Ponds are a Bass/Guitar Duo playing Instrumental Post-Rock music that adds an air of Ambient mysticism to their music. A Post Rock band without a drummer is quite rare but to the band’s credit, they pull this off with absolute conviction. Their music is more bass focused and the band feel like they’re playing a soundtrack to a long lost western movie with some haunting Psych Rock edges into the mix.


The first two songs Lonesome George and Someone’s Always Watching has an Americana edge firmly rooted in 1950’s style surroundings but with that Instrumental Post-Rock sound keeping everything modern. The instrumental work is superbly played and very discreet with a subtle Psychedelic vibe floating in the background. 


Someone’s Always Watching has a soft Jazz based finish to allow In The Pond to be quite a mysterious outfit. Both songs last around the two minutes mark. Maybe not the most exciting style of music but I enjoyed these two tracks immensely. 


However, the real action appears on the excellent standout track Haruki On The Sand where In The Pond bring a heavier style of Post-Rock that flirts between Classic Rock, Alt Rock and Jazzy grooves for a more well rounded audio experience. Jennifer plays some killer bass lines for David to lay down impressive Psychedelic Western based riffs. The song is slow paced but In The Pond plays some of the most imaginative Post-Rock rhythms and sounds I’ve heard all year. 


Shame the EP only lasts for under 10 mins or so. However, there’s a lot to admire here and this is a fantastic introduction for In The Ponds to make themselves known to the wider Post-Rock community. I’m hoping for a longer release next time round. As I want to hear more.


Overall, Polar Night is a winning collection of great songs and abstract sounds you wouldn’t expect from the Post-Rock field but In The Ponds pulls this off with style and conviction.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.


Polar Night will be available to buy digitally from October 19th 2022.


Links:


Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter