Sometimes you just get lucky. You know, those times when you happen across a disc (both the shiny digital and waxy black analog kinds), strap on the earphones, press play and – ah – sustained aural bliss. No, it’s not just one catchy track, but a full album so compelling you must sit under its thrall and listen ’til it’s done. These are rare moments, folks. So rare, in fact, you can usually count ’em on one hand while reciting the exact times, places and titles.

Or maybe you don’t know or care – and that’s quite alright.

In any case, I had one of those moments when, thanks to a reader in Cherryfield, I got a copy of the Ponys’ “ShiShiMuMu” and gave it a spin.

The Portland-based band’s full-length debut on Time-Lag Records is 13 tracks of well-crafted pop rock, with an artsy, experimental edge, supported by lyrics ranging from wryly funny to strangely heartfelt to sublimely absurd. And bonus points for great cover art – original, collaborative drawings by the band.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t everybody’s pop rock. Some might find the tunes too jangly and some lyrics off-puttingly strange. “Dark Side of the Moon” it is not. However, for fans of shoe-gazing college rock somewhere in the vein of the Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, the Shins and even Radiohead, “ShiShiMuMu” is worth a listen.

A nerdy note of caution: Even though my experience has been based solely on the CD version (and that format is OK by me), word is “ShiShiMuMu” was intended to be enjoyed on vinyl. (Yes, Mom and Dad, they still make records.) So if you’re looking to check out this album and maybe add it to the home collection, take a look for the double LP release on 180-gram vinyl (that’s the superduper high- grade stuff). Of course, a few MP3s are available for perusal on the band’s Web site, too.

If you’re heading down Portland way today (or if you were looking for a reason to), you can catch the Ponys playing live tonight at Space, 538 Congress St. Tonight’s gig will wrap up the band’s spring tour, which included playing at this year’s South By Southwest, SXSW, music festival in Austin, Texas.

The 18-and-older show starts at 8:30 p.m. and will feature music from solo performers Geoff Farina and Rebecca Gates.

For more about the Ponys, visit www.theponys.net. For more on events at Space, log on to www.space538.org. George Bragdon can be reached at gbragdon@bangordailynews.net.