Nar-ke
(independent)
A lot of the time, the term “experimental” is code for “unlistenable,” particularly when terms like “challenging” come along for the ride. Pony Bwoy, on the other hand, is decidedly experimental, and is a particularly engrossing, even relaxing listen.
This Minnesota duo — Jeremy Nutzman and Hunter Morley — mixes elements from a wildly unexpected bag of influences. At times, there are echoes of tripped-out Jamaican dub, at others there are ambient sounds swirling in an unreachable distance. Intertwining with the skipping, rollicking beats are vocals that range from smooth R&B singing to fast, half-spoken and half-sung passages. The vocals, too, get a full treatment in the electronic realm, slowing to sludge or turning to auto-tuned, robotic sounds.
This chaos is so messy, so tangled, that something intriguing happens: Pony Bwoy’s noise washes over you in a massive, unstoppable wave. There are clear melodies here, even if they’re chopped and diced. They drift along in the mix, providing a focus that turns the noise into a mellow, skipping and swirling backdrop.
This is R&B from the Twilight Zone, or perhaps it’s a musical message from the far future, garbled in transmission. Your ears will be confused, but strangely happy.•
