Perhaps one of the hardest working young groups in the country, self-styled gypsy folk ‘n’ roll outfit Holy Moly & The Crackers have something of a purist, perhaps even romantic approach to being in a band: write some tunes, then hit the road and keep going until you’ve got some more to play. It remains a refreshing take in an era in which the means of music consumption can favour the one-hit-wonders of the bunch.
On this, the band’s first recorded output since 2015, there are signs of a heavier, crunchier direction – the drum skins are well beaten, and vocalist/fiddler Ruth Patterson’s smoky vocals are delivered clipped and staccato, rather than purred as has previously been the case. The storytelling and multi-instrumentalism that made debut album 'First Avenue' – and the hundreds of live shows that trailed it – so captivating are still here though, so fans the band have picked up over the past years on the road shouldn’t be disappointed.
Oh, and there’s a slightly ridiculous 30 second trumpet solo to keep the group’s barnstorming sensibilities sharp too. After all, as founding member Conrad Bird puts it, they “like to make people dance.”
The single comes ahead of an 18-date tour of the UK, running the duration of April (and slipping an appearance into May too).
A limited 7” press of the track, along with B-side ‘Hallelujah Amen’, will be on sale at the shows – presumably until stocks last.
It’ll be available to stream/download via all the usual digital outlets too, starting with a Bandcamp exclusive today before going on wider release from April 7th.
Check the video out below:
Words: Will Pritchard (@Hedmuk)