Hailing from Sydney, Australia, but living in Cape Cod, Massachusetts for nearly 30 years with a family and a law career, Richard Davies has been quietly releasing artful indie rock since the ‘90s under his own name as well as his bands: The Moles, Cardinal, and Cosmos (with Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices). Like Pollard, a school-teacher until age 38, attorney Davies steadfastly continues making inspired music. If you’re not already familiar, we strongly encourage a deep dive. Among the hardcore Moles fans are The Flaming Lips, who have covered the song “What’s The New Mary Jane” and served as Davies’ backup Moles band on tour way back in the 90s.

A new Moles album, Composition Book, is slated for February 7 on Pollard’s new Splendid Research label. The second single premieres right here: “Had To Be You”, a cover of an album track gem by New Zealand / Flying Nun band The Bats.

Northern Transmissions: You started The Moles way back in 1990. What drives you to keep making records?

Richard Davies: It’s part of my DNA, like a congenital defect.

NT: And you’re a trial attorney during the workweek. Are you law colleagues aware of your music?

RD: Sure. They are puzzled about my music and they laugh about it.

NT: Have you ever gotten song ideas in the courtroom?

RD: I get song ideas in trials, yes, all the time.

NT: You’ve generally written original songs on all your albums, what inspired you to cover the Bats “Had To Be You”?

RD: The Moles covered a Slade song on Code Word (yes, the very secret Code Word). I always loved the Bats and Robert Scott’s songs, as well as his paintings, which resemble his songs. Clean, neat, tidy, compelling. He has his own style in music and art.

NT: Hamish Kilgour (Scott’s bandmate in The Clean) played drums on Moles album Instinct. Was Flying Nun Records a big musical influence to the early Moles when you lived in the Southern Hemisphere? Did the New Zealand bands tour in Sydney and did you see any of them perform back in the day?

RD: Yes. Knowing that they could do it told me I could do it. They were great. Fearless. Flying Nun was a giant musical influence on the gestation of the Moles. They did their own music and said f*ck you all to Australia, and all the geographic regions. There was very little other inspiration to do your own thing in Sydney in the late ’80’s.

NT: Where there any contemporary Australian bands that you particularly enjoyed? Where you a fan of the Go Betweens?

RD: Yes, yes yes.

NT: Triffids?

RD: I liked Wide Open Road and Bury Me Deep in Love but that was about it.

NT: The Stems?

RD: Not that much.

NT: The Saints?

RD: Totally of course

NT: How about Ed Kuepper and his group Laughing Clowns

RD: Please stop me laughing – loved Ed and the Laughing Clowns a LOT. He was my hero to a degree. He had so much going against him other than his talent, and it was obvious he didn’t give a shit about that. He DID give a shit about his music.

NT: Where you aware of US bands like Guided By Voices and Flaming Lips back then?

RD: Guided by Voices were and continue to be a massive influence on me. Have been so pleased to meet Bob Pollard and collaborate with him.

NT: How did it feel to return to the stage on the Guided By Voices tour last year?

RD: I felt free.

NT: You’ve live in the US for over 20 years. Do you feel like an American?

RD: Of course! Good grief I spend every day fighting people in court, with a vague set of rules. I do not disavow my Welsh heritage or Autralian birth but give me a break I am very very American omg.

Richard Davies Discography

The Moles

Untune The Sky (1991)
Tendrils & Paracetamol EP (1991)
What’s The New Mary Jane EP (1992)
Instinct (1994)

Cardinal

Cardinal (1994)

Richard Davies

There’s Never Been A Crowd Like This (1996)
Telegraph (1998)
Barbarians (2000)

Cosmos (w/ Robert Pollard)

Jar Of Jam, Ton Of Bricks (2009)

The Moles

Tonight’s Music (2016)
Code Word (2018)
Composition Book (2025)

>Short Moles documentary https://youtu.be/bkKO_-SGXEU

>The Moles ca. 1995 (Richard with The Flaming Lips backing) https://youtu.be/QCOZNhTM4nw

>1999 – The Flaming Lips cover The Moles’ “What’s The New Mary Jane” https://youtu.be/Jf7JHKwHqUA

The Moles 2025 co-headline tour with Tobin Sprout 2025 (ex-GBV)

Wed 2/12 Boston @ Arts at the Armory
Thu 2/13 Philadelphia @ Johnny Brenda’s
Fri 2/14 Washington DC @ Songbyrd
Sat 2/15 Brooklyn @ Union Pool

Pre-order Composition Book HERE