Not your Mum's House Music (Children Of Love - Fuckpony)

Member Name: DavidRx

Product:	Children Of Love - Fuckpony
Date:	07/03/07 (292 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well, they're called Fuckpony...

Disadvantages: a few weak tracks drag down the others

This originally was released in the middle of 2006 and got quite a bit of attention, but I've only just got round to giving it a good listen. The brains behind Fuckpony is Jay Haze, an American based in Berlin a city known for its devotion to the 4/4 lifestyle. He says this release is a bit of homage to the classic House sounds of the mid to late eighties with a few modern stylistic quirks mixed in. I don't know jack (in joke) about 80s House, so have no idea how successfully it emulates its predecessors' ethos.

The cover is a clue to the neoHouse music contained within. Cartoonish (speeded up, manipulated voices, odd sound EFX), garish (while this is not soothing, chill out music, but it is quite OK for just listening to on your iPod) and ebullient (happy music for gurning people). But there's a bit more going on here than just boom, boom, boom, boom music.

This is an impeccably produced House CD, with enough individual sounds spread over the sonic palette to engage a listener's interest. On the first listens, the novelty of the production impresses. The beats are varied enough from track to track and there are plenty of simple little stereo tricks played with sound EFX. It's almost certainly a different experience played on a club PA, but it still works on an iPod or home stereo.

However, I found myself quickly tiring of the predictability of things. The inanities of the vocals (I know, I know, who listens to House music for vocals?) overpower the beats and textures of the music, working against them but the 13 tracks differ enough in style that you don't find yourself grumbling too much that it all sounds the same.

Top Tracks
Children of Love
Ride the Pony
It's only Music
Bongo Porn

Overall worth a listen, but not something I can imagine playing obsessively as it gives up what little charm it has too easily. But you know, this is House music not Ligeti so what did I expect?

Summary: A shorter pony ride would've been better.