Painting poetic pictures with lyrics backed up by killer punk melodies, it's a surefire hit!
I was super excited to get a review copy of the Molly Vulpyne Band‘s first album, ‘Houndstooth and the Hum‘, having loved her previous solo EP release, ‘Amortise‘!
Formed in 2024, what was meant to be “just one gig” for Molly Vulpyne Band snowballed into recording an album and playing a rapid-fire run of festivals and gigs across the UK and Ireland. After releasing her solo EP ‘Amortise‘ in 2024, Dublin based songwriter Molly expanded her sound with a full band featuring Irish punk veterans Peter Jones (Paranoid Visions), Jay Bagnall (Paranoid Visions, Steve Ignorant Band), and Tony Carberry (The Lee Harveys).
Their sound refuses to be boxed in, part punk, part alternative, part melodic, part chaos and raw emotion. It fits nowhere and everywhere, and that’s exactly the point. Drawing comparisons to PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, and Garbage, Molly Vulpyne channels fury and vulnerability while forging a sound that is unmistakably her own – poetic, political, and always authentic.
The spine-tinglingly good ‘Hook‘ opens the album. Molly has a knack of writing tunes that reach out and seize you – such as ‘Dead In The Water‘ on her previous EP – and this first album track does exactly that! From the earworm guitar riff to the lyrics “Take that hook right out of my skin”, it’s gong to hook you in!
A song for everyone who feels like an outsider trying to create art in this (anti)social media world, ‘It Don’t Fit‘ is another poetic masterpiece. “I am the wrong key, and it don’t fit” speaks of the struggle to enagage. Subtle but deep basslines supplement the main melody.
‘Inertia Right Hand Man‘ is the only track from ‘Amortise‘ to also appear on ‘Houndstooth and the Hum‘. Originally a slower, beautifully echoing song featuring only Molly’s voice and guitar, it has been sped up, with backing vocals and the full band added on the album version.The song is a call for bravery when essential change must happen; in overcoming doubt and allowing certain parts to be stripped away.
Molly’s rich voice really comes to the fore in ‘I Wanna Be Your Filter‘, a fast-paced but groovy, coffee-inspired song of toxic love! Stripped-back track ‘14‘ incorporates solo voice and guitar, a heartfelt number of grief, loss and fond remembrance, which swirls and circles back and forth.
‘My Expiry‘ is another of Molly’s super-catchy tunes! It’s also a super positive song of self-belief and worth; “Tell society, I’ve still got it in me!” she sings boldly. I Love this one!
‘Ripe‘ is a song about realising your own power as you mature, and learning to avoid those who would use and abuse you. It starts slow and gentle, becoming harder and rockier as it comes to its conclusion.
Molly sings about the perils of narcissitic attitudes in ‘Ur a Fad‘. “It’s an ode to the fake people in the music industry, the users, style over substance, ego over art” explains Molly. “Some people want fame, others want to create. Always stand up for yourself!” Ultimately, being fake will lead to your total downfall. This is a melodic rocker with a very memorable chorus!
Final song ‘Ode to your Farewell‘ sees Molly realise that she’s better off without a charming but entitled person in her life. It’s another very positive song about getting through a tough situation, with an upbeat, assertive tune.
There’s a hidden spoken word track to conclude the album; a poem based upon the album title, read by Molly. I won’t say too much about it so as not to spoil the surprise, but it’s insightful and thought-provoking, and makes the perfect epilogue to this superb body of work.
“I find self-promotion super-cringey” says Molly, “I’m actually quite shy!” In that case, we’d better shout about where you can get your copy of this essential debut album – ‘Houndstooth and the Hum‘ is on vinyl, CD and cassette HERE (out 6th March) and on digital download HERE (out now!)
Catch Molly Vulpyne Band on tour with Interrobang in May:
7th May – The Lexington, London
8th May – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton
9th May – Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
and also:
12th April – Hairy Dog, Derby (with The Darling Buds)
27th June – Victoria Bikers Pub, Coalville
6th – 9th August REBELLION FESTIVAL, Blackpool
26th September – The Rigger, Newcastle
- Hook
- It Don’t Fit
- Inertia Right Hand Man
- I Wanna Be Your Filter
- 14
- My Expiry
- Ripe
- Ur a Fad
- Ode to your Farewell
Follow Molly Vulpyne Band on Their Socials:
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Usually found jumping around down the front at gigs, I also relish taking photos and videos, singing, speaking with fellow music fans, and asking musicians the questions nobody else does. Writing about my favourite bands and connecting with people who love music too keeps me more-or-less sane! I’ve worked for over 25 years at a video production company, mainly filming live music events, therefore I have an additional backstage perspective on the scene.
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