PONCÉ is a twin brother duo entirely unafraid to showcase an emotional intensity and sonic variety rarely reserved for indie rock. They harness dance rhythms and guitar/synth combinations in ways that remain largely unexplored in modern contexts. The songs sit comfortably within a pop orientation, freely crossing genre with harmony-driven melodies that bring both recent electro-rock favorites like Polica and Americana classics like Tom Petty to mind.
The twins’ debut effort serves as a bold, experimental work that showcases a variety of sonic influences while remaining true to the traditions from which the songs were born. Afterglow is a collection of tunes that work well in tandem, each one serving a functional purpose that situates the piece as a complete whole. The opening track “Surrender to the Night” harkens back to 80s style dance music, with tight, chorus-heavy guitar hooks and spacey synth pads, while other works like “Whoa Dakota” incorporate the alternative country/Americana tradition with breezy acoustic guitars and beds of rhodes organ.
This is a work that, aside from being impossible to ignore, situates PONCÉ as an outfit instrumental in Nashville’s indie rock scene. Pick up a copy of the album tomorrow and be sure not to miss twins’ next show at Little Harpeth Brewing on May 6th.
-Andrew Strader