Mould are a post-punk sounding trio from Bristol. The press release says that their debut album is “13 tracks that explore the horrors of the outside world and the internal minefield of the brain”. A nice description, and very post-COVID in aspect. Also correct. The lyrics are the best thing about Hoping as a Coping Mechanism, born of prosaic nihilism and boredom, with a seasoning of desperation.
Musically, Mould’s angular energy makes up for what they lack in musical originality, and the whole thing is done in about 35 minutes so they don’t outstay their welcome. They veer from harsh Idles-esque riffery (such as “Lucid”) to funk-tinged Stump-y abstraction (such as “Tapes”), with a side order or indie guitar pop songwriting sneaked in too, as on the closing, string-laced “Humm”.
One aspect that sets them apart from most contemporary post-punkin’ guitar acts is the way they favour a blokes-together bellowed chorus, harking back to the likes of Snuff of even original “street punks” such as Angelic Upstarts. Such a move sounds as if it would detract from their appeal but, in fact, it differentiates them from similar peers and suggests the possibility of commercial success (should they catch the right tail wind). Just check the chant-along chorus of “Emotive Language” for evidence.
But back to those lyrics. How about “Momentum superseded by bureaucracy and its myriad of middle men” (from “Superseded”)? That’s positively Kafka-esque! Or, “Watch my mind decompose whilst I waste it, misanthrope to my bones” (from “Misanthrope”). And I like the reference to ambling “through oblivion gladly” on the doomed but energetic and catchy “Float”, a highlight.
While the blend of splenetic attitude and approachable sonic spikiness is convincing, Hoping as a Coping Mechanism is likeable rather than a game-changer. There are, however, hints of exciting future paths that could be taken, particularly a minute-long piece, “///”, a fuzzed-damaged, dub-distracted sliver that recalls Trevor Jackson’s Playgroup. Combine what's going on there with Mould's feisty songwriting chops and who knows what will happen...
Below: Watch the lyric video for "Float" by Mould
