March 9th, 2009 | Paris
Good ideas tend to be recycled—why change a winning team, after all?—so it's no surprise that French band Poni Hoax has reinvented the wheel with Images of Sigrid. A follow-up to 2006's self-titled debut, this album warps Italo disco and post-punk in a giddy frenzy of dance-friendly pop.
Producer Joakim brought the space disco on board, breathing fresh air into an old-school genre, while Poni Hoax added a bit of Parisian darkness to make the sound unique. Despite the inherent doom and gloom of post-punk, the result is positive, infectious vibe that will seize you upon first listen. Images of Sigrid is equally at home on a dancefloor as in a dark basement
Even in the midst of darkness, Poni Hoax is optimistic, singing—on title track, Nicolas Ker sings: "There are no clouds/only blue skies." The strongest track is perhaps "Antibodes," with its chirpy Studio 54-tinged melody, while "Hypercommunication" evokes Ian Curtis' vocals over a funky Prince-style groove. In many ways Poni Hoax is a French version of Hercules and Love Affair—no smiles and moody lyrics over a '70s disco beat—but it remains unique despite the easy comparisons. Whether you want to laugh or cry, this music works for both.
For more information, see www.myspace.com/ponihoax.
—David Hellqvist
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