Since the December 2018 arrival of Big Sky, the lead single from the mysterious and enigmatic Orville Peck, there has been an utter fascination with who he is. Shrouded in a modified bondage fetish mask and adorned with a Stetson, Peck keeps his identity a mystery. It’s hard to have any conversation about him or his music without speculating on his identity, but we’ll leave our guesses out of this.
His debut album, Pony – is a sidewinder.
Orville Peck embraces the spirit of outlaw country, while bringing the appeal and sensibilities of indie rock. Each song on Pony has its own tale to tell, from lonesome protagonists in their quest for love, to a small town drag queen looking for their place in the big city.
Pony cannot be classified as just a country record, but genre-bending effort. It lassos a mix of country, indie rock, and new wave without losing sense of who it is. That said, it’s hard to not make comparisons to the likes of Chris Isaak, KD Lang, Glen Campbell, Kris Kristofferson and, of course, Elvis Presley, but this album remains uniquely Orville Peck’s.
From a production standpoint, the album is nearly flawless. It’s a testament to mixing. Every instrument, sound, and effect is deliberate. Not one decision feels out of place. Songs like Kansas (Remembers Me Now) is a perfect example of that, as it fades out into static as if you are losing radio reception on a lonely highway at dusk.
The driving guitars of Buffalo Run leaves you feeling as if you’ve been caught in a the midst of a out-of-control stampede. By the end of the song, you’re wrapped up in a cacophony of guitar, reminiscent of a live Broken Social Scene concert.
Contrastingly, songs like Roses are Falling draw memories of the country western music which played on your grandmother’s kitchen AM transistor radio on summer nights long ago . . .that classic country crooning that would even make Elvis blush.
Through and through, Orville Peck’s Pony is full surprises. Its captivating lyrics and sound bring you back over and over again. This is a record that won’t gather dust on your turntable.
Viewing the mysterious cowboy Orville Peck from the outside, there are some noteworthy Canadian connections. Interesting things like his album being distributed exclusively by Toronto’s Royal Mountain in Canada, but Sub Pop for worldwide distribution. It’s also worth noting that Pony was recorded at The Noise Floor with Jordan Koop. That recording studio is located on Gabriola Island; a small island off the coast of British Columbia.
Orville Peck will be making his Western Canadian debut at Vancouver’s Wise Hall on May 19th, 2019. We guarantee that this concert will sell out based on the intrigue Peck has created for himself. He’s certainly on our wishlist when it comes to festivals this season.