“Rattlesnakes, Vampires, Horse Tribes and Rocket Science” by The Moles
“The song started with a broken little acoustic parlor guitar accompanied by a garden sprinkler – the guitar, bass and drums had to play to the sprinkler’s erratic tempo.And we’re all still friends!!! For the video, the words were triaged by Micaela Delgado, who I’ve never met but is a wiz AND a waitress! The way I made the album allowed me to play guitar in ways I had not had the time to do before – the rhythm guitar has everything to do with The Sweet and Status Quo, but the electrics are ethereal/manic and have nothing to do with either. The meaning of the song is everything is process so you may as well get used to it.”
Australian mad scientist Richard Davies has long flown under the popular radar with his groups The Moles and Cardinal, but his albums are loved and championed by indie rock royalty. A lawyer by day and a proud father of two children, Davies has been prolific in his output, despite a lack of commercial success. “It’s part of my DNA, like a congenital defect,” says Davies.
Today, Davies unveils brand new single from Composition Book, “Rattlesnakes, Vampires, Horse Tribes and Rocket Science”. The album, due February 7th, is poised the third release on Robert Pollard’s label, Splendid Research.
On over ten albums spanning four decades, Davies has had a revolving door supporting cast, including members of The Clean, Sugar, Sebadoh, Free Time, Woods, and The Flaming Lips, who served as The Moles tour band in 1995, and also covered “What’s The New Mary Jane.” Davies co-wrote the 2009 Cosmos album through the mail with penpal Robert Pollard.
The Moles’ new album, Composition Book, was recorded at Davies’ home in Cape Cod on an iPad and mixed by Matt Gerhard in Austin, Texas. Composition Book’s band features Boston drum titan Malcolm Travis (Sugar, Human Sexual Response, The Zulus), pedal steel / vocal / tech wiz Sue Metro (High Risk Group / Harriet Records), and the Inner Banks’ bassist David Gould and vocalist Caroline Shutz. Finally, Katherine Poindexter teams with Shutz on backing vocals – “they are a beautiful instrument together,” says Davies, “like Flo & Eddie.”
A scholar of the songwriting of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Dylan et al., Davies spins off subtle, catchy indie rock melodies, sometimes reassembled in bizarre Frankenstein arrangements and deconstructed sonic derangements.
On Composition Book, The Moles have evolved with emphasis on acoustic guitar and divine female voices. Davies’ lyrical non sequiturs and caustic wit sting, surprise and delight.
from Robert Pollard – Guided By Voices
Richard Davies is one of the last great songwriters on planet Earth. Every song on Composition Book is up there with his finest and so it’s no small feat that after 35 years of making beautiful records, this one is his best.”
The Moles
Composition Book
Track Listing
Feel Like a Dollar
Chimes
Alvin Hollis
Lost Generation
Since I Don’t Know When
Rattlesnakes, Vampires, Horse Tribes and Rocket Science
One Day
Tragedy
Had To Be You
Blow Yer Mind
Promised Land
The Moles 2025 Tour Dates
Wed 2/12 – Boston, MA @ Arts at the Armory
Thu 2/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
Fri 2/14 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd
Sat 2/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
(with Tobin Sprout & Bevil Web)
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