Featuring a $300 DIY music video…

Western Sydney mind-melders Pond are back with another single and visual from their upcoming album 9 this Thursday morning, their latest release ‘Toast’ another foray into psych-pop, rock and a plethora of every other cool genre you can think of.

The tune sees the Ponderers continue on their theme of social commentary and introspection, with singer Nick Allbrook reflecting on the Western Australia bushfires of last year along with the wealth divide that continues to permeate his home state. Vocally he’s in his 80s ballad bag, slow and measured delivery of lyrics like ‘Life’s too short to be away from you’ just so deliciously nostalgic and euphoric. The accompanying instrumentation is just the right amount of swanky and blissful, featuring everything from a saxophone to cascading synths and warbling guitar solos.

The DIY video (which costed only $300) is perhaps one of our favourite Pond videos yet. Directed and edited by Pond and Alex Haygarth, the five-piece revisit the karaoke style cinematic mixed with a surrealist ‘dine in the sky’ element. As a result, the clip is a one-take shot of the band members eating breakfast (possibly lunch or dinner, the presence of the champagne is really throwing us off), while clad in blue and white threads that are implicitly reminiscent of the golden 80s. Singer Nick Allbrook makes his way in and out of frame at various points as well, taking the time to keep his band members fed and nourished while singing the tune with his signature bravado.

Speaking on the new track and its poignant message, Allbrook explains “I often wonder about those people – the money hoarders, climate change deniers, earth-pilferers and adventure capitalists – are they nihilists or anarchists or do they really believe they are to be saved by some Rock Opera Jesus? We may never know, but here is ‘Toast,’ which is hopefully as smooth as the smooth, smooth sailing of our glorious leaders fat old white lives” with band member Jay Watson adding “We filmed the clip on a green screen in an abandoned garden centre in one continuous take. It cost us $300 to make (the price of four takes worth of champagne). I ate five fried eggs over the course of it. Another instalment in a long series of homemade Pond videos.”

A worthy instalment that’s injected with everything you know and love about the Ponderers, it’ll no doubt transport you from wherever you’re locked down to somewhere far more vibrant and serene. Check it out below.