Fantastic Playroom
by New Young Pony Club

Album details

US: 28 August 2007 on Modular
UK: 9 July 2007 on Island / Modular

Although labeled "New Rave" by the UK music press, the co-ed London five-piece are much closer to 1980s New Wave in sound. Their debut LP Fantastic Playroom includes previously-releaed singles "The Bomb" and "Ice Cream" (you’ll recognize the latter from an Intel commercial).

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The critical consensus

When an album draws comparisons to everyone from Blondie to CSS to the B-52s to Le Tigre, you’d expect it to be fun, and on that count, NYPC’s debut doesn’t disappoint. Fantastic Playroom is "easily, and most definitely a party album," says This Is Fake DIY, and other critics agree, generally praising the record. While many try to steer clear of labeling it new rave, Q calls it "slick enough to be new rave’s first coffee-table album." MusicOMH simply sticks with "New Disco," while Hot Press gives up on terminology and concludes that "the whole shebang suggests an early ‘80s NY time warp where the rockers and socialites met uptown at the Tom Tom Club and the Ze label weirdo convention." Despite its completely retro vibe, Playroom draws praise from Pitchfork, whose Rob Mitchum deems it "a record that is meticulous and comfortable in its genre-specific craft, and excellent for it." NME calls it the "year’s surefire indie synth crossover record." And Dotmusic is the most effusive in its praise, finding Playroom "a supremely assured debut of jerkily brilliant funk-punk to which any sceptic initially put off by the hype should immediately hasten with open heart."

Gigwise thinks the album falters toward the end, but that "there is enough good work … to make up for the band taking their eye off the ball somewhat." Drowned In Sound finds Playroom "disposable" but also considers it "a kinky bit of fluff whose only obvious flaw is a lack of decent new material." Lost At Sea finds the album too cold (breaking out the phrase "icy joylessness") to be a fun listening exeperience. Count The Guardian among the album’s biggest detractors: "Over a whole album, the formula wears thin, and they sound like a band trying too hard to be trendy." And then there’s Stylus, who not only find the album lacking substance, but also paling in comparison to the band’s influences and its contemporaries.

A masterclass in lean and slinky cool, awkward as fuck, yet as ultra-simple and super-catchy. … They sound like a fresh and bright pop future.

-Uncut

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Get Lucky
2. Hiding On The Staircase
3. Ice Cream
   
   
4. The Bomb
   
   
5. Jerk Me
6. Get Go
7. Talking Talking
8. Grey
9. Fan
10. Tight Fit

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• NYPC @ MySpace