Tropical Suite (studio album)
by Poni Hoax

this is really great album...unfairly underrated! give this piece of wonderful music a credit!

From sageamagoo 02/03/2017 07:08

THIS IS IT! This is the album I've been waiting 4 years for! The album I always knew Poni Hoax could make.

Some background:
Back in 2011, Poni Hoax was one of my favourite artists. I used to think they were this crazy unique band that could do no wrong, and everyone would look up to them in a few years' time if only they could break through to the mainstream.

But A State Of War came, and it was comparatively lukewarm. It kind of saddened me, since Images of Sigrid remains a masterpiece, and what I thought was an upwards trend turned out to be more of a fluke than anything.

Well, fast-forward to 2017 and Poni Hoax have learned from their mistakes. This album is a breath of fresh air for a band that seemed to have run out of steam. Most of this life and energy comes from how it was created: the band travelled to various tropical locations with a history of violence, and recorded on-location the feelings they got while staying there. As Nicolas Ker puts it:

"It's between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn that the climate is the most suited to the needs of the human animal, that's where it should be the most happy but at the same time it's where are found in general the most violent conflicts, the most dictatorial regimes and the most alien social policies."

The band uses this as the concept for the record. It makes for a powerful core sound, fleshed out with incredible textures thanks to the two keyboardists. On this album is anger and fear, passion and the will to push forward. It's an album that blows by, filled with well-written songs that pull you from track to track along the journey the band and (I suppose) history have taken.

Gluing the album together are the three Tropical Suite tracks that end each of the three vinyl sides; they contain a melody embodying the beauty and evil that has happened, a melody that changes from place to place but stays the same at heart. All together, this album shows Poni Hoax at their freshest and most enthusiastic, pulling in all their influences to make a wonderful, cohesive record that lives up to the standard of previous albums. It may be shorter than past efforts, but it showcases a truly great collection of songs with energy and direction and beautiful moments abound. I am very impressed by how tight and succinct the record feels—nothing overstays its welcome, and there are so many ideas and genres explored while remaining cohesive and keeping the flow of the album in high regard.

I very highly recommend this release.