More melancholic than their offering under the guise of ‘Fixed Stars’, Pony Club’s debut is as beautiful as it is brutal - pop hooks with sinister undercurrents.
Fronted by Dublin based Mark Cullen, Pony Club are the end product of a journey that has seen two albums under different names (Bawls ‘Sticky Rock’ and Fixed Stars, Ian Broudie produced, ‘Illegitamate Targets’), songs being covered by Ash and support slots with Morrissey.
Musically, ‘Home Truths’ has a fragility to it, modern pop hooks in a Black Box Recorder meets Lightning Seeds style - but did the Lightning Seeds ever sing about domestic violence? Lyric wise, this is where the genius of Mark Cullen is really shown off. Dealing with abuse, alcoholism, addiction (to love and other things) and the tedium of a soul sucking existence - ‘where everybody calls their first born Britney’ (CCTV)
It’s love of a warped nature, the dark side of obsession and need. Social commentry in a glorius poetic medium. ‘Fuck With My Heart’ is a justification of faults and ‘Stop’ about attempting to break away to something better but ultimately being trapped forever. Cullen’s use of the first person draws you in, infiltrating the subconcious and characters are created. Home Truth’s is a snapshot of a particular side of today’s culture, the starkness and realism of the lyrics jarring with melodic pop.
Just as Pulp’s ‘Common People’ encapsulated a way of life all too familiar, so does ‘Home Truths’ - and at times it makes uncomfortble listening.
Mark Cullen may not be well known to most people but to me, he’s an inspiration and one of the best songwriters around. With ‘Home Truths’, he’s possibly produced the album of the year,a beautiful and disturbing debut with lyrics possessing a subtlety and ability to say something to the listener that certain other bands will never achieve. Go buy it.
