Pony Club play Odessa Dublin on May 28th.

Mark Cullen is older and wiser. He's been through the wars and survived with bittersweet insights. Most people haven't come across him in his incarnation as Pony Club in a while. Indeed 'Family Business', their last offering was released in 2004 but now they're back with the release of 'Post Romantic' .

To the unaccustomed, the Pony Club story is far from unique but still worth noting in that few Irish acts in the last 20 years can rival. Signed to A&M in 1995. Spent 5 years in London. Made and spent lots of money. Got picked up by Mercury. Spent a fortune on an album that never received the light of day. Released two albums on Setanta. Earned fans such as Morrissey and plaudits from the UK mainstream press. And then it drifted.

And so it's back to basics for Mark and Pony Club. However, some constants remain such as Mark's poetic lyricism, barbed wit, wry observations and ability to cast his astute gaze on domestic life.

"My wife had a lot of health problems and we've got two kids to look after so that put music into perspective. It had to take a backseat for a while," explains Mark.

Pony Club comprise of Mark's brothers Darren and Jason, along with Dave Morrissey and Martin Healy, both formerly in A-House and while most of the material on Post Romantic was recorded in 2006, Mark didn't really have the time or headspace to support getting it out there.

Indeed, its release now is even more timely since the country itself seems to be in post romantic notion of itself. Mark reflects on the fine balancing act of ideals and realism.

"Post Romantic is written from a grown up point of view. It's not about boy meets girl, girl dumps boy and boy goes on the batter with mates. This is more about being a 30 something and hoping that she'll break up with you. It's more about the daily drain of domestic life, when the love is gone or when you move more from Teenage Kicks to Barry White."

And so they've shed the baggage of hype. It's getting the music out there once again with experience tempering expectations.

"You start out thinking you want to make music that defines you and youlose sight of why you enjoyed it in the first place. When we started we would be gutted walking into label meeting when a single didn't chart with airplay. Now it's funny if it gets played anywhere.

"Ones priorities change. Music really isn't that important when you see someone you love dying in front of you or when kids come along," he says.
Mark knows some people dig Pony Club and some don't. He knows some people have forgotten they still exist. He has to remind himself every now and again. Post Romantic is their return calling card. One that proves the razor-sharp lyrics, riffs and melodies that first sparked the flame remains intact.