Matt Pond PA – Songs of Disquiet

By Casey Gallenberger

In the midst of what has been, undeniably, a tumultuous year for much of the world, Songs of Disquiet is a title that seems timely; when compared against the album’s eight beach-tinged folk tracks, it feels oddly contradictory. Disquiet may be the vehicle through which these songs exist, but the EP itself rests instead in hope and tranquility.

Matt Pond, along with long-time co-contributor Chris Hansen, seem to release music at an indomitable pace, and the pair have made good use of the recent lockdowns to craft an EP in response to national and global conversations on the pandemic, racial inequality, and general unrest. The result is anything but preachy. Rather, the duo warmly come alongside the audience with a message of hope and transformation.

The EP is a curious amalgamation of original tracks, moving covers, and soothing instrumentals. Despite its would-be sundry nature, the EP carries a cohesive mood (save, perhaps, for the dance remix of “Pillar of Salt”). The tracks bear a certain levity and playfulness, and this is best exemplified by Pond’s take on “Rock in the Sea.” Guitars shimmer, drums clap, and synths dance gently underneath.

The instrumentals immediately conjure imagery of sitting on the beach as the tide rolls in or walking beneath trees in the fall during peak color. They’re guitar-heavy tracks that could be seen as a bit noodly, but the emotional context is that of both isolation and peace. They’re meditative tracks that ultimately do add to the EP’s cohesion.

Pond’s ability to strategically recontextualize songs from disparate corners of the music spectrum and fit them with his own work is uncanny. In fact, if you haven’t heard the original versions of some of these songs, it’d be easy to mistake them as if Pond had written them himself; there’s a careful unity at work here that typically wouldn’t work. But Pond and Hansen have somehow cracked the code on composing these covers.

The one oddity is “Pillar of Salt (Stirred).” While it’s solid, it’s the second time this song is covered on the EP. This time around, there’s a stronger dance influence, and the prominent use of electronic elements seems a bit abrupt. While this song certainly will expand the duo’s audience with its playlist-friendly nature, it’d arguably work better as a bonus track given just how much more energy it carries. Between the two variants, “Pillar of Salt” occupies just about a third of the EP’s total playtime, and that inevitably makes it a bit of a risky move.

Nonetheless, Songs of Disquiet is a comforting musical haven. These songs can command attention on their own, but they can also work in the background just as easily. Pond and Hansen continue their tradition of thoughtful songwriting, and their covers are the highlights on this release. Ultimately, this is a strong EP that is sure to help you decompress.