Pompey - “Fifty Gallon Drum” (Pocketclock Music)

Bewildering Pop Music | The Internet exhales the strangest musical ideas. Some are awesome, some dull, most of them are simply boring. Rowan McNaught’s Pop-experiments are worth a listen - though I bet some of you might disagree. The experimental Pop-tunes he releases under the name of Pompey refuse any proper classification. He switches from lo-fi Electroacoustica to Ambient to Avant-Pop like changing your underwear. Connecting element: the sound of the gallon drum. (see also his videoclip!)

After an EP and a full-length album in 2005, “Fifty Gallon Drum” is the latest record by Pompey. It’s out on Pocketclock Music, a small Australian Netlabel that features The Sound of Young Melbourne. The Music on the new Pompey album is made of uneven rhythmic drum-patterns, gallon drums, synthesizers, some skew vocals and a handful of tiny noises. Less guitars than on the previous releases, Rowan moved his music closer to Fine Arts than Indierock. If a collapsing tower of gaudy building bricks will ever need a soundtrack, it’ll be Pompey. Check the video for “Feet Miniature” for reference:

The Pompey songs preserve a strong improvisational sense, they seem like sketches that have been recorded accidentally. Still there a beautiful melodies and structures that justify the drawer Pop music. Some people probably dislike Rowan’s loose tunes. But if you’re into Can, The Beta Band, Animal Collective or Russian Gultskra Artikler, you probably dig the Pompey-muzak.

MP3 Pop Music Download

Release-Site: Pompey - Fifty Gallon Drum
Direct Download: Fifty Gallon Drum ZIP
Netlabel: www.pocketclock.org
Artist Website: www.myspace.com/pompeycasmilus

About the Author

This article was written on Friday, November 16, 2007 by Bettina Rhymes. Bettina Rhymes is the journalist alter ego of Sven Swift. Swift runs the established CDr- and Netlabel 12rec.net and acts as a Netaudio DJ every now and then. Next to his job at Phlow Mag, he writes reviews about free music at RUBored.org. Read more articles written by Bettina Rhymes.