''Tasmania'' is the eighth studio album by Australian

psychedelic rock Psychedelic rock is a rock music Music genre, genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelia, psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound ...

band

Pond A pond is a small, still, land-based body of water formed by pooling inside a depression (geology), depression, either naturally or artificiality, artificially. A pond is smaller than a lake and there are no official criteria distinguishing ...

. It was released on 1 March 2019 by Spinning Top Records via Caroline Australia (

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internationally). As with previous Pond albums, it is also co-produced by former member and

Tame Impala Tame Impala is the psychedelic music project of Australian singer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker (musician), Kevin Parker. In the recording studio, Parker writes, records, performs, and produces all of the project's music. As a touring a ...

frontman Kevin Parker. It features 10 tracks, led by third single "Daisy". At the

AIR Awards of 2020 The 2020 AIR Awards was the fourteenth annual Australian Independent Record Labels Association Music Awards ceremony (generally known as the AIR Awards). It took place on 1 October 2020 in Adelaide. The nominations were revealed on 7 July 2020 ...

, the album was nominated for Best Independent Rock Album or EP.

Background

''Tasmania'' has been called a "sister album" to the band's previous record, 2017's '' The Weather''. It was recorded in

Fremantle, Western Australia Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia located at the mouth of the Swan River (Western Australia), Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australi ...

Concept

''Tasmania'', much like the band's previous release, ''The Weather'', is a concept album that continues exploring certain themes and topics touched on in that record. In a statement, the band called the album a "dejected meditation on planetary discord, water, machismo, shame, blame and responsibility, love, blood and empire". In addition, the band also stated that the album "coats an undercurrent of restless, anxious dread in a sheen of light, apathetic content - both real and parody - rather than wallowing in self-pity, encouraging us to celebrate the fruits of our planet, frolic in the ocean, kick up the dust, roll in the grass and enjoy the feeling of being in love - while we still can."BWW News Desk
"Pond Announce New Album TASMANIA, Share DAISY Video"
''

Broadway World BroadwayWorld is a theatre news website based in New York City, New York. Launched in 2003, the site covers Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, and international theater productions, with sections devoted to particular countries, cities, or regi ...

'', 10 January 2019

Singles

"Burnt Out Star" and "Sixteen Days" were released in 2018 as the first two tracks from the album, released on 23 July and 5 October respectively. The third single, "Daisy", released on 10 January 2019, was noted for featuring "seductive changeups and dance-worthy delivery" by ''

Paste Paste is a term for any very thick viscous fluid. It may refer to: Science and technology * Adhesive or paste ** Wallpaper paste ** Wheatpaste, a liquid adhesive made from vegetable starch and water * Paste (rheology), a substance that behaves as ...

'' magazine. A promo video for the title track, "Tasmania", was released to YouTube on 1 March 2019 to coincide with the album's release. Music videos for "The Boys Are Killing Me" and "Hand Mouth Dancer" were also uploaded to YouTube later in the year.

Critical reception

''Tasmania'' received generally positive reviews from critics. At

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, which assigns a

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rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an

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score of 77, based on fourteen reviews. Mark Deming gave a positive review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

, claiming " the music is effective and satisfying regardless of the level of quirkiness (they have a consistently strong talent for cutting a potent groove), and they make their eccentricities work in their favor rather than just boosting their "interesting" quotient."

Track listing

Personnel

Pond *

Nick Allbrook Nicholas Allbrook (born 23 November 1987) is an Australian psychedelic rock musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the frontman of Pond, and a member of musical duo Allbrook/Avery. He was a touring member of Tame Impala before le ...

Jay Watson Jay Wesley Watson is an Australian multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer and songwriter. He is best known as a touring member of the psychedelic band Tame Impala and as a co-founder of the psychedelic rock/pop band Pond, with whom he's record ...

* Joe Ryan * Jamie Terry * James Ireland Additional musicians * Francesca Mountfort – cello on "Daisy" * Joey Waronker – drums on "Tasmania" starting at 3:04 * Lucy Jack – additional vocals on "Burnt Out Star" * Tristan Parr – cello on "Selené" * Jonathan Wilson – guitar on "Selené" * Benjamin Witt – guitar solo on "Shame" * Kevin Parker – drums on "Doctor's In" Production * Production – Kevin Parker & Pond * Mixing – Kevin Parker & Pond * Engineering – Kevin Parker & Pond * Mastering – Joe Carra * Additional engineering on "Selené" – Sam Ford * Artwork – Pond

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2019 albums Pond (Australian band) albums