Wilful Missing
Album: Molehills Out Of Mountains
Label: Little Attic
Tracks: 11
Website: www.wilfulmissing.co.uk

"Molehills Out Of Mountains" is the debut album of Bradford based five piece Wilful Missing, which comes on the heels of two earlier EPs, "Vast Atlantic" and "Loose Ends". It's also not the most instant album you're going to hear, which is no bad thing as many things that are instant, fade just as quickly and are often a poor imitation of something that takes that bit longer.

What the first listening of "Molehills Out Of Mountains" does is pique your curiosity. It has a level of intrigue that makes you want to come back and try to get as much out of the album as it's prepared to offer. You might even think that there is something of an English Toni Childs in sound and delivery, you might dismiss that as an initial thought, but you will come back to it, as you will the album.

It's an album that takes on some powerful issues, both on a philosophical level and an emotional one. These are well written strong songs, carefully thought out, songs you build a relationship with rather than a casual acquaintance. Unfortunately it's for that reason, I think these songs will struggle to get the airplay they deserve with the knowledge of the album being passed by word of mouth via bedsit lands up and down the country.

At least that's the way it might have worked pre-social media, fortunately there are other channels that bands have to get heard, so if you can give this album several listens and then recommend that your Facebook friends do the same. Wilful Missing capture that harshness of life and turn it into deep, heartfelt songs.

"Molehills Out Of Mountains" is an album that is built on solid English grit, it almost feels as though it's been made in black and white to help give it an edge and even when it's briefly headed off into a more Celtic texture, you still feel it's about light and shadows and double meanings. I'm liking this a lot and feel I've a lot more road to travel with Wilful Missing.

Neil King