Fremantle psych-pop eccentrics Pond have shared new single, ‘Hang a Cross on Me’. The track is lifted from the forthcoming deluxe edition of their 2021 album 9, which is set to arrive later this month.
The track features improvised vocals from musician, poet and Perth fixture Cowboy John, whose sprawling spoken word is foregrounded by kaleidoscopic synths, propulsive drums and house-influenced piano chords. The band previously enlisted Cowboy John on the title track of their 2013 album Hobo Rocket, and he’s in similarly fantastic form here.
“He meditates on love, life, the universe and everything with his signature fantastical surrealism and cosmic wonder,” Pond frontman Nick Allbrook says of John’s inclusion. “It’s always a pleasure working with him. He is incredibly rare and brilliant and we love him.”
‘Hang a Cross on Me’ arrives alongside a glistening video full of light and energy, directed by Alex Haygarth and Allbrook, filmed around the Fremantle stone chamber of Victoria Hall. “[Bandmate] Joe Ryan lent me his laser gloves and everything just sort of came together as we danced about, me with a bedazzled and fringed cowboy hat built by a tripper, Alex with a camera. It felt like the right type of creativity, with lots of grooving around and fun easy ease,” Allbrook says.
The deluxe edition of 9 is set to arrive Friday, 20th May as a metallic silver 180g double LP. It includes four new tracks – ‘Hang a Cross on Me’ and the previously-released ‘Lights of Leeming’ along with ‘My Funny Serpentine’ and ‘The TAB Took My Baby From Me’. Pre-orders are available here.
Watch the video for ‘Hang a Cross on Me’ below.
