Pond – Tasmania (Clear Vinyl) NM/VG+

“Tasmania” is Pond’s eighth studio album, released in 2019, blending psychedelic rock with political and environmental introspection, wrapped in lush, experimental soundscapes.

Produced by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Tasmania continues Pond’s trajectory of genre-bending psychedelia, following their 2017 album The Weather. While The Weather explored surreal, abstract themes, Tasmania turns its gaze toward more grounded concerns—climate change, colonial history, and existential dread—all filtered through the band’s kaleidoscopic sonic lens.

The album opens with “Daisy,” a nostalgic and shimmering track that evokes childhood memories and emotional vulnerability. “Sixteen Days” follows with a playful French pre-chorus and disco-inflected groove, while the title track “Tasmania” delivers a haunting reflection on environmental collapse, with frontman Nick Allbrook singing, “I might go and shack up in Tasmania before the ozone goes.” This refrain becomes a thematic anchor, suggesting escape and isolation in the face of global crisis.

Musically, the album is rich and layered, combining synth-heavy textures, funk rhythms, and dreamy melodies. Tracks like “Burnt Out Star” stretch into eight-minute epics, balancing introspective lyrics with expansive instrumental passages. “The Boys Are Killing Me” and “Hand Mouth Dancer” delve into darker emotional territory, while “Goodnight, P.C.C.” closes the album with a sense of weary resignation.

Despite its heavy themes, Tasmania maintains a vibrant, almost celebratory tone, using sonic beauty to contrast its lyrical unease. It’s a record that dances on the edge of apocalypse, offering both critique and catharsis.