New Zealand’s Fazed on a Pony make their Wantlist debut today with swan, their second full-length and first for Meritorio Records. Out now, the album offers a confident blend of smooth indie rock and well-timed alt-country sidesteps, with tasteful pedal steel and fiddle adding extra depth rather than novelty. On swan, the band traces the messy middle of figuring yourself out: second-guessing, self-sabotage, disappointment, and the kind of late-night honesty that shows up when defenses are down.
Songwriter Peter McCall writes melodies that wouldn’t feel out of place on mainstream radio, but delivers them with the sincerity and restraint of a true independent artist. Standouts like Flashes and Wrong Party sound like lost hits from the early ’00s indie boom, while more layered tracks such as Not Even Trying reveal a subtlety that rewards repeat listens. It also makes me curious about how these songs translate live. I can easily imagine becoming more convinced with every track they play.
This is clean, well-crafted music that goes down easy, but lingers longer than expected.