Saturday 11 November 2023

In The Ponds - The Last Stop Ranch (EP Review)

Release Date: November 03rd 2023. Record Label: Entelodon Records. Formats: DD

The Last Stop Ranch - Tracklisting

1.You Can Kill Me Anytime 03:44

2.Playing with Matches 02:55

3.Hide and Seek 04:18


Members


David Perez – guitar

Jennifer Gigantino – bass


Review


One of my favourite Post-Rock bands In The Ponds return with their new EP The Last Stop Ranch. This time round In The Ponds offer a more Classic Rock sounding EP compared to their previous releases which were more Ambient focused. There’s also a return of the Western based Soundtrack vibe first heard on their debut EP. 


Throw in a mellow Jazzy attitude with the solemn melodic tones of the laid-back Jazz/Blues Rock guitar from David and Jennifer’s heavy thumping bass and In The Ponds focus on playing music a highly effective style of Experimental Post-Rock with a subtle style of Shoegaze and freaky Psychedelics on the entire EP with the songs Playing With Matches and Hide And Seek being the most effective tracks on the record.


With this being more Classic Rock related, the opening track You Can Kill Me Anytime sees In The Ponds open their creative minds to twinges of Garage Rock and even with this being purely instrumental, there’s a bleak atmosphere with the gloomy song titles telling the listener all they need to know about the entire song and EP for that matter.


The Last Stop Ranch could have done with a couple more songs for In The Ponds to explore this new found creative style of music but it’s always better leaving the audience wanting to hear more than overstaying your welcome. In The Ponds proving once again why they’re such a breath of fresh air within the Instrumental Post-Rock scene. And any release that shines a light on 1950’s Rock and Roll with freaky guitar solos on Hide And Seek deserves credit for doing something highly original.


In The Ponds have delivered the goods yet again. I’m hoping for a full length album in the near future. However, until then The Last Stop Ranch is another impressive release for In The Bands to entice fans and potential new followers with.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.


Links


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