New Young Pony Club hit the scene five years ago with a number of singles that got the hipster kids to leave the land of the wallflowers to burn holes in their dancing shoes. Debut LP Fantastic Playroom collected those singles in a single package much like LCD Soundsystem’s first album. The fresh-faced Brits demonstrated a less-is-more approach that was refreshingly accessable, with calm-yet-driving bass lines, bright raindrop synths and a healthy smattering of handclaps, all underneath a purr of restrained sensuality.
Sophomore album The Optimist attempts to be more of a serious affair, much like LCD Soundsystem did with great success. All the elements that made Fantastic Playroom are huge dancehall hit remain largely unchanged, yet The Optimist falls far short of any expectations.
The fashionable kids of NYPC have taken the ’80s new wave vibe and run with it, clearly inspired by acts like Blondie and Talking Heads in their new material, but along the way they seem to have lost what people loved about the band to begin with: the fun. Atmospheric instrumental breaks and slower vocals on tracks “Stone,” “Before the Light,” and “Architect of Love” create a dream-like haze that is frankly nauseating. The poppier tracks like “Dolls,” “We Want To,” and “Chaos” are dance tracks you could fall asleep to. Tahita Bulmer’s vocals noticeably end on down notes far more frequently than in previous efforts, giving the entire affair a dour misanthropic vibe.
Here’s hoping we can chalk this LP up to growing pains and the sophomore slump. A more ambitious production with little thought given to the ultimate outcome, The Optimist is a merely decent album from a previously exciting and attention-worthy band.
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