When strategically placed within the context of an album’s tracklist, an instrumental interlude can serve as much-needed breather or as the perfect segue between stylistic jumps. Interludes do, however, become problematic when it feels like nearly your entire record is based around them.
Such is the case for Richard In Your Mind, the vehicle of Sydney muso Richard Cartwright, who returns here for a third album after a couple of years out in the wilderness. So, what do Cartwright and co. have to show for themselves for the three years separating this and 2011’s Sun? Not very much at all, unfortunately. Not even Spod.
Cartwright’s voice is a little hazier and more Lennon-esque (take your pick of either John or Sean), and the band’s psych elements are pushed as far as their stoned little bodies can take them. Outside of that, however, Ponderosa has too few ideas that are spread thinly across way too many tracks – and even the sub-three-minute tracks feel like overstayed welcomes.
In theory, Ponderosa is the kind of album that wants you to stop and smell the roses for a while. What it actually achieves is closer to watching grass grow.
2/5.
Ponderosais out now through Rice Is Nice / Inertia.
