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Watch Pond’s Violent and Triumphant ‘Giant Tortoise’ Video

Pond Giant Tortoise Video Hobo Rocket

It’s easiest to think of Pond as the wildebeest to Tame Impala’s titular animal. As far-out as the latter get, their Perth, Australia neighbors bring punk rawness and unpredictability to the psych-rock process. But there’s no need to choose one or the other — the two bands share a couple of members, and deliver different gifts. Pond will release their fifth album Hobo Rocket on August 6 via Modular, and the first taste is “Giant Tortoise.” The song is wild and wooly, but also prone to moments of placid greatness. Backmasked bells and reverbed vocals, interstellar keys and fiery guitars power the thing, while Nick “Paisley Adams” Allbrook lobs heavy existentialisms into the air: “Why would I even try?” he asks at one point, and he may be onto something. Pond feels unedited and effortless. The clip above offers apt accompaniment, comprising mostly found footage of people doing violent and triumphant things.

Pond, Hobo Rocket track list:

1. “Whatever Happened to the Million Head Collide”
2. “Xanman”
3. “O Darma”
4. “Aloneaflameaflower”
5. “Giant Tortoise”
6. “Hobo Rocket”
7. “Midnight Mass (at the Market Street Payphone)”