Pompey - Sung Tug
Although I missed it embarrassingly late, the most exciting sound I heard from the indie folk scene came from an artist called Pompey, whose 2024 single Snug Tug took me by surprise. Now, to wave my due diligence slightly, it's important to explain the context of my discovery of Pompey. As most people do, I was scrolling through Instagram when I was suddenly transfixed by some of the silkiest hair I have ever seen pop up on my screen. No words exchanged, no grand gesture of comedy or drama, just that innocent-looking face staring back at me, and the song 'Snug Tug' playing behind.
When you first hit play on Snug Tug, you're instantly hit with this guitar that really doesn't seem anything other than ordinary. That is, until, seemingly out of the blue, a whisper of such innocence begins to discuss childhood woes. almost out of nowhere, there is a heavy ricochet off blown-out percussion. Guitars explode out of seemingly nowhere, and only two retreat again. A bit of base slowly here and there, and a cutting lead guitar rips through the distortion, followed by indie sleaze-esque chants.
The beauty of this track is revealed in its quiet moments, when the lyrics come alive, and you can hear the anxiety and frailty of Pompey's ego. The guitars are washed out, the drums are lo-fi, and the top end is scooped, leaving it booming and thin like TV static. What I found really interesting about the record is how Pompey seems so unbelievably timid when asking questions, but when responding to their own dialogue, euphoria strikes, accentuated by explosive flourishes of guitar tones and drums. Both the vocal persona and the record's subject matter convey that coming-of-age feeling. the feeling of discovering oneself, and the unfortunate fact that most of us struggle to feel happy all the time, especially when external factors shape how we perceive ourselves.
Pompey tackles this release with a childlike abandon. An authentic sense of fear and an overwhelming craving for acceptance are woven into every note. When I say things like "lo-fi," these elements are pushed to extremes. They sound like they're recorded on an old tape cassette, burnt onto a CD, downloaded through your parents' Wi-Fi from 1992, and then put back onto the recording. I really can't express how bad some of the production sounds on this record. It's totally unorthodox but makes perfect sense once you hear it in context. The track feels as though it is one with the idea of imperfection and the beauty that lies within it. This is excellent by Pompey, and it feels like it's just got the message of love yourself, which is excellent when you come into the summer.
Label: Self-Release (2024)
Pompey - Sung Tug
