There’s nothing more essential as an antidote to the current dark climes as a burst of radiant power pop from Naarm/Melbourne outfit Hexham Heads. Their self-titled EP, released on the inimitable Cheersquad Records & Tapes, is out now and it is as bright and fizzy as a soda bottle that’s been shaken around, opened up and sprayed into the air.
Van Walker says of the band:
The art of songwriting for me has always been an attempt to cut to the heart of the matter, much like sculpture, carving away the unnecessary. The hardest thing is to be simple. And even harder is to be happy. But the world needs more joy and harmony. I hope Hexham Heads is a group that gets people singing together, if nothing else.
Opening track ‘Say It Again’ has a sound redolent of Teenage Fanclub with a twelve-string ring to it and a breezy jangling vibe. The song is, according to the band, a lover’s plea, and a promise that there’s still time to “make you happy”. Lead vocalist and songwriter Van Walker says:
One should never promise anyone happiness, but in the heat of the moment these promises are made!
Elsewhere, there is a little more beef in ‘Can’t Live Without You’ with its Status Quo/Ramones thumping fuzz:
‘Let Me Go’ returns to the scaling jingle jangle power pop while final track ‘Music’ shimmers at a more sedate pace in a paean to the healing powers of music.
The EP is out now and available to download and stream via all the usual sites and through the link below:
Part of what I call the Marrickville Sound – veteran band members with a storied history in other bands, Hexham Heads consist of Van Walker (Swedish Magazines/Livingstone Daisies and a prolific solo artist) and Mic Hubbard (Spencer P. Jones/Ella Hooper/Downhills Home), joined by Brett ‘Wolfie’ Wolfenden (The Pictures/The Casanovas/Wolfmother) on drums and George Carroll Wilson (Pollyman/Bones and Jones) on bass guitar.
Hexham Heads has a March residency to launch the EP at Shotkickers, 744 High St, Thornbury:
Wednesday March 12 w/ Charles Jenkins
Wednesday March 19 w/ Wesley Fuller
Wednesday March 26 w/ The Rayes
