Edgy, Magazine-indebted mood-rock from Manchester.I interviewed Molly Half Head for my student newspaper back in the day. I remember being quite taken-aback when the bassist and guitarist told us, with an unnerving intensity, that if Molly Half Head wasn't successful, that would be it for them, they'd have to jack music in and get jobs on building sites.
It seemed like both a lot of pressure to heap onto a couple of student journalists and also quite an optimistic view of the influence of the Aston University student paper.
I thought Molly Half Head's debut album - 'Sulk' - was great though and they got a good write-up. Admittedly, I hadn't heard Magazine back then but 'Vivid Whitsun' made a big impact on me and was my first encounter with the wonders of the loop pedal.
This version pre-dates the album and is a little less polished. It features the same elements though - arcs of guitar, the constant serrated guitar loop and spacious but menacing rhythm section. It's topped with singer Paul Bardsley's distinctive vocal sound and lyrical preoccupations - reflections on childhood loneliness mainly, playing with an Action Man, that kind of thing.
Looking back they predated the Manic Street Preachers 'Holy Bible' album which used the same influences as their starting point. They also make me think of
British Sea Power, though more downbeat and less bombastic.
Molly Half Head didn't make it, though they did get to make a second album. Shame.
Download Molly Half Head 'Vivid Whitsun (Single Version)' (alternative indie rock download, mp3, 320k, Mediafire)
