Snowpony: The Slow Motion World Of Snowpony

In the '70s, supergroups came to typify the kind of musical excesses that made punk such a welcome respite. Usually, the bands featured Eric Clapton or, God forbid, some member of Yes, and the combined star power and instrumental prowess made it nearly impossible to keep even the most modest flight of fancy in check. In the '90s, supergroups appear to have returned, albeit in a far more innocuous form. Members of Cibo Matto and R.E.M., for example, pop up everywhere. Snowpony, a new band formed by bassist Debbie Googe (ex-My Bloody Valentine), singer Katherine Gifford (ex-Stereolab), and drummer Max Corradi (ex-Rollerskate Skinny, since replaced by Moonshake's Kevin Bass), has a similarly impressive family tree, but in this case, the group just about equals the achievements of its relatives. Melding the mind-bending noise and blurred samples of MBV, the pop sensibilities of Stereolab, and Moonshake's dubby Can foundation, The Slow Motion World Of Snowpony is a disc for all those who had given up on the spirit of ingenuity that marked the once-great Too Pure label (original home of PJ Harvey, Stereolab, Moonshake, Pram, etc.). Featuring sharp production by John McEntire, Snowpony's auspicious debut offers both chugging rock noise ("Easy Way Down," "Bad Sister," "3 Can Keep A Secret (If 2 Are Dead)") and skittering, hypnotic pop ("A Way To Survive," "Snow White"). Nothing here breaks new ground, but the execution is so seamless that it doesn't matter. Post-rock, hip-pop, prog-rock: Whatever it is, Snowpony is pretty great.