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"Ice Cream," the undeniably catchy first single from London's New Young Pony Club, is a tricky song to follow up on. Its up-tempo beat made it palatable enough for the nice folks at Intel, but the bored deadpan hooks inched a bit close to novelty for comfort. Following up with a song in the same vein might nab more mainstream attention, but risks alienating the quick to tire hipster caste. For an example of this cautionary tale, see the Electric Six.
"Tight Fit" from the just-released Fantastic Playroom LP only hints at a shrewd way forward.
The rumbling bass and glossy synth flourishes here give the song a sheen of mature professionalism. But when the band switches from the bratty call and response of the early seconds to the more overtly club inspired vocals of its later portion, it loses a chunk of personality. The key for the band's future success is integrating their spunky energy with the admirably slick production more completely. A cracked disco ball reflects a more interesting pattern.