This label sampler compilation comes with a press release informing us of the Ponyland label's "eclectic nature" and aim to raise "awareness to the DIY cause", before suggesting if you don't like what's going on, you should "get off your arses and do something about it."
Hear hear. Especially when "Problem Children" turns out to be as eclectic, diverse and stimulating as its' advance notices suggest. Indeed, it's a filler-free 12 -track affair with all four of Ponyland's current artists supplying three tracks apiece. And, for sure, all four bands are more than worth crossing the road for.
Excellent London quartet THE SCRATCH are Ponyland's label bearers and W&H have previously featured reviews of their "DIY" album and fine current EP "Undercover". "Problem Children" reminds us what an intriguing record "DIY" remains and also what a diverse, style-straddling outfit The Scratch are. The immortally-titled "I Relax To Spiral Scratch" hi-jacks lippy, rip-roaring rock'n'roll, manic handclaps and a necks a subtle side order of beats. It's an anthem-in-waiting if ever there was, while both "Texture To The Flava" and "X-Ray Eyes" present us with intelligent, danceable thrills, memorable hooks and a way of incorporating scorching guitars, crushing beats and electronica that's presently only rivalled by the likes of Kasabian. Watch out for them.
MAMAJAMAS, meanwhile, are Ponyland's most straight-ahead garage rock purveyors. They were originally clocking up serious brownie points on the London live circuit around the turn of the century, but split up temporarily until Ponyland stepped in. The likes of "Miss Kate" and "Leave Tomorrow" make you glad they did, too, as both proffer cantankerously hooky, rough-edged pop aligned with cheeky riffmongery. You immediately get the feeling they'd be excellent live, too.
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At a different tangent altogether, MEANS OF PRODUCTION set the controls for the early '80s, which is actually pretty timely right now. Tracks like "My Ex's Excitement" and the cautionary "Fashion Wheel" showcase splatchy, analogous synth-pop fare, with echoes of "Travelogue"-era Human League and Cabaret Voltaire's Virgin period, as well as nodding to smart contemporaries such as Camp Actor.
It's PONY VIRUS, though, who are surely Ponyland's wild card. Personnel-wise, apparently, this shadowy bunch can number anything from two to five or more, and musically they are just as adroit at avoiding pigeonholes. The three tracks they contribute to "Problem Children" can also be found on their debut EP, "Passing Through", and none of them are less than fascinating. "Another Slice Of Feminist Might" sounds like it could be Crass-style militant rant, but is actually a brief, chaotic snippet of malevolent electro-punk and warped as fuck to boot. "Passing Through" itself goes from dark'n'broody to gentle'n'floaty and stops at all points between, while arguably their best here is "Massive Attack (Meets Friday 13th)" which does tap into a fugged-out Bristolian sound and sounds maliciously mellow en route. Intriguing and then some.
"Problem Children", then, suggests Ponyland Records are sharp at spotting the talent amongst the delinquents and that their artists should be fostered by all discerning homes. The kids round here are more than a bit of alright.
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