by Scott Yohe
There’s a common misconception about what it means to be a champion. Many people think it’s all about being the winner, standing above everyone else in a competition. Norway’s Pom Poko might disagree or at least think that definition is too narrow. The noise-pop-tinged post-punk band offers their own take on what it actually means to be a champion on their newest album, Champion.
Following 2021’s spectacular Cheater, the band took some time off before returning with another masterpiece. Champion is a record you'll want to listen to over and over. It’s packed with infectious sing-songy vocals, jagged instrumentals, and warm vibes for 38 minutes straight. Lead vocalist Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit has described Champion as the album where Pom Poko has matured, a sentiment that’s evident after just one listen. New life experiences, such as parenthood, shape Champion into the magical experience that it is.
The album opens with “Growing Story,” a track that oozes personality from the start. It’s a song filled with twists and turns, setting the tone for the record perfectly. The vocals are relaxed, while the instrumental is frantic, creating that perfect dichotomy they know how to play with. The second track, “My Family,” is quintessential Pom Poko. Sticking with the themes of maturing and family, Ragnhild passionately screams, “This is my family!” over the chorus, a fitting declaration, as the band does come across as a family. The eponymous “Champion,” is more subdued than the preceding songs, showcasing the band working together as the family unit they are. It’s a song that demonstrates that, for Pom Poko, being a champion means being whoever you want to be and doing your best at it.
The album continues down a more subdued path with “You’re Not Helping” and “Pile of Wood.” The latter still contains those instrumental and vocal freakouts, with Ragnhild saying, “I want to scream/do you want to scream,” which fittingly leads into a musical frenzy. The song “Bell” sees Pom Poko at their most delicate. It’s one of the quieter songs, with one of the prettiest vocal melodies on the entire album. “Go” picks the tempo back up with a driving beat and frantic vocals to match. The following tracks—“Never Saw It Coming,” “Druid, Fox and Dragon,” and “Big Life” maintain that same pace. “Big Life” sees the band venture into darker territory, with harsh and inhospitable music and Ragnhild murmuring over it. It showcases the variety Pom Poko brings and their willingness to explore unexpected places. The closer, “Fumble,” returns the band to their sweet side and is the perfect way to wrap up the journey that Champion is.
The instrumentals on Champion are always engaging; there’s never a dull moment. Over the album’s runtime, Pom Poko explores every avenue of their sound. You can tell that they consider themselves a family just by how tightly they play together. Martin Miguel Almagro Tonne’s guitar playing cuts like a sword, slashing through with little resistance. Ola Djupvik’s drumming provides the perfect beat to keep the songs moving at the necessary pace, while Jonas Krøvel’s bass is like a rubber band, bouncing back and forth and holding everything together. There are times when the instruments might seem at odds with the vocals, but it’s all crafted very purposefully. Champion always sounds fresh and never leaves you feeling unsatisfied.
If Pom Poko set out to define what being a champion means on their own terms with this record, then they succeeded. It might seem silly to think about, but it’s important to realize that not everything is a competition—especially something like music. Pom Poko isn’t trying to beat anyone at anything; they’re just trying to be the best version of themselves they can be. It’s an important lesson they impart, whether they know it or not. While Pom Poko and Champion may be a lot of fun, they touch on some of the most important things in life. Champion shows that your family matters, whoever that may be, that maturing doesn’t mean losing your childlike sense of wonder (which seeps through the music of Pom Poko), and that you should always try to be the best version of yourself. Pom Poko knows that just being you can be enough, because of that, it’s clear that they actually are champions.