Houndstooth and the Hum - The Molly Vulpyne Band album review
Who?
The Molly Vulpyne Band have exploded onto the scene with their debut album ‘Houndstooth and the Hum’.
Tell me more!
Alongside her killer vocals, Dublin local Molly is accompanied by the celebrated punk legends Peter Jones (Paranoid Visions), Jay Bagnall (Paranoid Visions, Steve Ignorant Band) and Tony Carberry (The Lee Harveys) as they create a unique sound that radiates defiance in a brutally modern world. Aiming to be the opposite of perfect. ‘Houndstooth and the Hum’ encapsulates a feeling of rebellion against the boring every day, inviting the listener to release the weight of expectations and just exist – Molly adds ‘I hope the songs reflects the strength it takes to pull yourself out of inertia and be ok with not fitting into boxes and genres.’
The tracks are as follows…
1. Hook
2. It Don’t Fit
3. Inertia Right Hand Man
4. …I Wanna Be Your Filter
5. 14
6. My Expiry
7. Ripe
8. Ur a Fad
9. Ode to Your Farewell
Art
Our first impression of this album is the visually striking cover, a hot pink/black dogtooth backdrop with the singer front and centre – proudly owning the space in which her music exists. This style feels reminiscent of her rebellious rock foremothers Blondie, Joan Jett, Patti Smith and all the other outrageous divas that hit the music scene with sheer force. It’s vibrant yet slightly chaotic meshing off colours, text and image creates an almost electric feeling.
Art work by Dublin based photographer and designer Cormac Figgis. @themasterswitch.
Hook
The opening track ‘Hook’ kicks off the listening journey strongly with a hypnotising rhythmic drumbeat, when paired with the accompanying guitars and smooth vocal delivery it’s enough to get you moving. A notable riff keeps the pace of the track moving forward, effectively working to bring the song back down to its roots whilst the lyrical refrain ‘Take that hook right out of my skin’ gives listeners a feisty energy boost adding to the established spirited vibe.
It don’t fit
‘It don’t fit’ speaks about struggling to find a place, feeling like you don’t know where you belong or how to function. It’s a strong track which begins at a slower tempo, keeping anticipation for the angsty chorus to come. Molly’s sound has a serious but melodic tone, it’s almost soothing to hear her voice pierce through the steady tune of instrumental noise – also evidently thought-out precision and clarity has gone into her delivery. There’s an undertone of anger to this track that fits thematically with the overarching message, the words create a clear image – ‘Tryna stay inspired but just wanna stay in, tryna start a fire bit I can’t stay lit’ heavily portrays themental torment of wanting to be your authentic self but struggling to achieve it.
Inertia Right Hand Man
The first thing that I noticed in this song was the cool bass/drum section in the intro, the beats were clear and commanding, giving the track an adrenaline lift before it had even begun. Afterwards, it changes onto the full ensemble playing away and Molly’s vocals soaring overtop. Inertia, in psychological terms, describes the feeling of being stuck mentally and finding it hard to change your situation. This is such a recognisable challenge that practically everyone can understand and sympathise with. Molly plays with the lyrics to paint these troubles onto clear canvas, the words ‘I have no pulse, I have no plan’ are striking to me as the idea of not having the intrinsic beating of a heart to keep you alive suggests just how dull life can feel when you have no direction or drive. The story of the track shifts as further on Molly repeats the phrase ‘I’ve got to get through this’ which could be referencing when you reach breaking point and need to get out. I think this song is important, it recognises hardships and dismantles them at the same time, showing very real trials and tribulations of surviving today’s world. But also highlighting the courage in yourself to get back up and try again.
…I Wanna Be Your Filter
This record begins with a solitary guitar strumming an abruptly fierce rhythm which initially presents a stripped back style, which soon pays off when the full ensemble crashes in. I enjoy this song, the sound echoes that of an angsty alternative anthem. The chorus is explosive and guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser, with its dynamic pace and brutally electric guitar riffs its fizzing energy. The bridge brings a subtle lulling moment amongst the noise whilst molly asks the questions ‘Why don’t you stay?’ before the cacophony of noise rushes back into swing as the band rock out. The outro is strong as the ensemble intensely hold onto the tune for a few more defiant beats before fading into silence. ‘I Wanna Be Your Filter’ is my personal favourite off this album, the feeling of it is extraordinary and is 100% guaranteed to result in some headbanging.
14
After the full steam ahead energy off the last track, listeners are faced with the instantly more sombre theme of ‘14’. Based upon Molly’s experience of mourning her grandfather, the direction of this track hits a personally delicate tone. The intro commences in a minor key at a slower pace than any of the previous tracks. accompanied by a singular guitar, there’s an air of vulnerability as Molly beautifully narrates the scene of a garden. The storytelling within this song is clear, nicely set and tender as you listen to the raw emotion ladened upon it. The softer dynamic also keeps the musical variety of the album engaging, displaying the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Sticking to this motif, the singer says, ‘The album isn’t a neat, cohesive punk record, it’s fragments of emotions you feel when you’re lost, stuck, or just surviving.’
My Expiry
This track has an upbeat tune and gives a simple BUT NEEDED message; Stop caring about what other’s think of you and just live! ‘My Expiry’ revolves around the very real problem that everyone faces, that we’re only viewed as worthy if the world deems it so. The idea of being ‘too old’ or ‘not good enough’ still affects us all deeply and this anthem speaks out to destroy those barriers. This is a passionate statement preached burningly loud as Molly cries ‘Tell society, I’ve still got it in me’ encouraging listeners to believe in themselves and to never limit yourself because of what others may think. The lyrics in this song are poignant, the first verse includes the words ‘I spent years pale and weak, a misfit in my vessel I find it hard to speak’ and this resonates with me and I’m positive many others can relate to this stuck feeling, which makes the coming verses ring out triumphantly against all odds – its powerfully uplifting.
In order left to right: Jay Bagnall (drums), Molly Vulpyne (vocals/guitar), Tony Carberry (bass) and Peter Jones (guitar)
Ripe
‘Ripe’ begins with a more refined pace, a slower speed with softer lyrics that gradually gears you up for what’s to come. This song is impactful as it incorporates a mixture of heavy/soft dynamics, leaving the listener feeling invigorated by the punchy guitar breakdowns and rhythmic tempo. The first verse is sung in a more subdued manner, which is juxtaposed at around 1.26 into the track when the chorus introduces a radical shift in the overall mood of the song – leaning more towards a raucous, angsty tone with undulating riffs and Molly’s fervent vocals. The outro is forceful, unforgiving as a crash of instruments strum out the final chords before coming to eventual weighty silence.
Ur A Fad
‘Ur A Fad’ commences immediately with a snappy guitar riff to pull you in. Energy erupts instantaneously in this song as Molly sings passionately about the faults within the music industry, and how some people in this sphere care more about appearance than output. In the singers’ words she feels that others ‘who value style over substance and ego over art’ have a significantly negative impact on artists who cherish their authenticity. The tone of this piece feels demanding with a hint of anger, the lyrics ‘That validation drip is gonna keep you sick’ captures the essence of the songs message, delving into the obscurity of people in the industry that thrive off of how others perceive them and how its detrimental to the scene. Molly’s delivery of the lyrics has a sharp quality that expresses frustration in a gritty, piercing style as she focuses more on saying the words instead of melodically performing them. In the later half of the track the vocals are overlapped, simultaneously plays spoken word as well as singing, this is a new feature on the album and adds a nice layer of complexity as the song shifts into its outro. I enjoyed the blazing nature of this track; Molly has put her ideas into music and questions the structure of these systems we all find ourselves in, without fear of other people’s opinions.
Ode To Your Farewell
We’ve arrived at the final song on ‘Houndstooth and the Hum’ and it doesn’t disappoint. There’s a sense of tenacity throughout this track that gets you feeling rallied by the band’s performance, the temp is upbeat and unapologetically loud – rowdy in the BEST way. The vigorously energetic beat is paired with vulnerably delicate lyrical content, in the first verse Molly sings ‘Lately I am my own enemy, you put the stake through me, I’d let you do it again’ which shows a more fragile reality. I think this relates to the album’s theme of overcoming struggle where normal life isn’t perfect and sometimes things are hard; this song portrays a crucial aspect of being human – to take things as they come and ride on through the storm. With rocky choruses and power striking chords, ‘Ode to your Farewell’ rings home hard and echoes resilience for listeners to feel. I think this was a good choice to wrap the album up and feel it ended the journey on a valiant note, resonating an impression of strength as its sign off.
Final Thoughts
I thoroughly appreciated this album, finding tracks from start to finish to have zeal and deep significance. The Molly Vulpyne Band have arrived and want us all to know! The material of each song is remarkable and it’s obvious there’s been blood, sweat and tears poured into this project. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a punky, rocky, alternative listening experience to give this album a chance - I think it’s safe to say you’ll feel spurred on to get out there and be outrageous!
Happy Listening : )