After forming in 2008, Perth psych-rockers Pond broke through with their 2012 album Beard, Wives, Denim—a cheeky take on classic rock tropes. The band is often known for their association with Tame Impala (Kevin Parker produced their first eight albums, imbuing them with a supple vibrancy, and his live ensemble shares members with Pond). But they’ve built a sound and following that’s all their own, perfecting a glammy swagger and trippy cosmic vibe that was fully realised on their self-produced ninth album, 9. Given the free-floating nature of their music, it makes sense that Pond’s members freely swap instruments and riff off each other in real time. After years of trading lead vocal duties with bandmates Shiny Joe Ryan and Jay Watson, Nick Allbrook has stepped out as the de facto frontman, helming the overdriven rocker “Xanman” with ragged abandon.