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Fantastic Playroom

by New Young Pony Club

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New Young Pony Club: new rave or new disco? Answer: who cares when their music sounds this good? The London quintet might be a new phenomenon to some, but others will know them well, as they’ve been working hard behind the scenes for a good three years or so, building up a solid fan base to accommodate the release of this debut album. And what a debut it is. Fantastic Playroom ticks all the right "influence" boxes--Bowie, Blondie, New Order-–to make it suitably zeitgeist-capturing, yet their tunes are infused with an extra savvy and edginess, putting them slightly ahead of the new whatever game. Singles like "Ice Cream" and "The Bomb" illustrate the band’s way with a sexy rhythm; songs like the percussive "Hiding on the Staircase" keep the party going, while the band’s 80s style synth-pop indulgences come unashamedly to the fore on "The Get Go" and "The Jerk." A large part of the band’s appeal is vocalist Tahita Bulmer, whose slightly detached vocal delivery sits well on the band’s songs. True, Fantastic Playroom can feel more like a collection of singles than a coherent album at times, but that’s just what this band do best. We should love them for it. --Paul Sullivan