NYPC used to be known as the New Young Pony Club. Then the moniker became too cumbersome for the sleek duo who shed some members along the way and orbited toward ’80s electro sounds produced by bands even whose mothers have ceased to care. Anyone up for some OMD or DAF? Sure As The Sun echoes The Tom Tom Club, especially the chorus. And there are familiar snippets throughout. So by trying create a sound that is ‘righter now’ it invariably ends up sounding like yesterday. Nevertheless, there are points that boast both subtlety and velocity.
Hear Now l’m Your Gun and Play Hard and a comfortable immersion point can be found. They hit on a groove that is adventurous and accessible. The record consumer should give the NYPC a go on this evidence alone. Beneath the crackle of electro beats there also lurk moments of introspection. Overtime is icy in the Nico mould but develops into the grand elements of Annie Lennox, like a Teutonic amazon giving it some carousel pastiche.
Play Hard is a real new wave blender, starting with some Joy Division and Cure riffs and serving up a Goldfrapp curveball with twitching synth pop energy. They have a sharp edge to the doe eyed and poignant and whilst Everything Is may not be exactly that, it hints at the chastened mood of a NYC loft party. Like New Order fronted by Siouxie, NYPC bring a lot of yesterday to today for tomorrow.
BY BRONIUS ZUMERIS
Best Track: Play Hard
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: THE KNIFE, THE TOM TOM CLUB, GOLDFRAPP
In A Word: Pounding
