Maker

Pontiak's studio in rural Virginia is about 12'x12' and largely responsible for the saturated sound on their new album Maker. By combining disparate elements that alone ring familiar, Pontiak have pioneered a sound that is entirely their own. Pontiak recorded with lightning speed, generally keeping the first take as the final take. A lifetime of shared experiences certainly informs the three Carney brothers playing as a band. Jennings' bass or Lain's drums often finish the thoughts of Van's guitar. This is a level of musical communication that most bands are only able to achieve after years of touring and recording. It also may account for their staggering productivity, this being their third Thrill Jockey release, in just over a calendar year. The brothers' voices are remarkably similar, causing the lead and chorus to blend seamlessly. Together the vocals bring a warmth to "Wild Knife Night Fight", "Honey" or "Seminal Shining" and an eerie sensation that comes from what appears to be a chorus of one. Van's guitar work is an exercise in extremes with rhythmic drone, shifting often within one song into sharp lines. Live they are loud, make that very very loud, pushing the PA as they push their amps. There is a swing to Lain's drum playing and often in Jennings' bass rhythms that can be felt and almost seen. One merely needs to stand back to watch the crowd weave in unison, lost in their ocean of sound.