Orville Peck – Pony review

Secret Meeting score: 82

by Joseph Purcell

Decked out in cowboy attire – completed by a tasselled bandit mask akin to Zorro, Toronto native, Orville Peck, certainly stands out from the crowd on his enthralling debut record, Pony.

Released by Seattle based Sub Pop, Peck has amalgamated the sounds of 60s country pop, the tones of Roy Orbison, and film noir backdrops. While at other moments, the exquisite 80’s production nods towards Frankie Goes to Hollywood, thus keeping the 41 minute record feeling fresh.

Peck’s rich country tones permeate the record, adding a depth and resonance that emboldens this excellent long play. Set against the rolling backdrops, Peck has presented a collection of songs that elevate the more they are consumed.

His baritone doom spreads evocatively throughout Pony, from the sultry snaking chimes of Winds Change, to the creeping gloom of Big Sky. Opener, Dead of Night, starts slowly with a gently plucked guitar – before his vocal soars and then elevates into a heightened state of falsetto. Old River is a definitive nod to the gospel charged numbers of Johnny Cash, while Queen of the Rodeo displays the mesmeric 80s pop production at its finest.

Highlight, Roses Are Falling, is a beautiful melodic snapshot – Peck’s vocal creating a range of peaks and valleys on a heart-warming track that is reminiscent of Elvis. Yet, it doesn’t feel cheap, gimmicky or false. Peck has somehow managed to encapsulate the sounds of a plethora of the most distinctive and loved musicians from the past, but at no point does Pony feel like a glorified tribute.

Peck is an interesting proposition indeed, and a welcome addition to the musical landscape of 2019.

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