With a pair of EPs behind them, Toodles & The Hectic Pity, or simply Toodles to their fans, have built a local cult following with their specific style of cosy, poetic folk-punk. Combining high-energy, acoustic guitar led passion inspired by bands like Against Me! and AJJ with vulnerable, intimate lyrics and vocals that fly between a mellow whisper and unhinged shouts from frontman Callum McAllister, the Bristol based three piece shine on their much anticipated debut album.
Opening track ‘Wake Up Cold’ sets the scene for the album with a steady building portrait of a shared house after the collapse of a relationship. McAllister’s descriptions of items around the now lonely house are vivid, with phrases like “every book you’ll ever read has got your eyeballs printed on the pages” immersing the listener in the space. The slow-burn instrumentals build from soft ambience and an acoustic guitar to all out, grandiose indie rock providing a fantastically appropriate introduction to the rest of the album.
With a steady hi-hat beat the intro track flows straight into album highlight ‘Solitary Or So It Seems’, an upbeat yet haunting showcase of Toodles’ folk-punk songwriting ability in a varied and creative track. The production on ‘Solitary Or So It Seems’ has to be praised, remaining clear through all the chaos and ever-changing dynamics, managing to keep McAlister’s voice central to the mix despite the huge sounding, distorted acoustic guitar. Drummer Dom Mosely also deserves recognition on this track, effortlessly keeping up with the changes in tone, from gently keeping time behind singer-songwriter style folk to frantic punk energy without missing a beat.
“Retains the band’s intellectual integrity and finds a perfect balance between entertaining and poetic”
One of the biggest strengths of Hold Onto Happiness With Both Hands is Toodles’ ability to effortlessly jump between introspective folk and lively indie-rock or folk-punk sounds, keeping their poetic, emotionally charged lyrics consistent throughout. Between the tracks ‘Pedestrian Baby Part 1’ and ‘The Enemies Of Happiness Are Not Napping!’, Toodles & The Hectic Pity show off both sides of their signature sound while keeping both equally affecting. The former, ‘Pedestrian Baby Part 1’, is a slower, melancholy rock track with plodding, deliberate chords from a fuzz drenched acoustic guitar backed with Max Cole’s winding, tasteful basslines. Lyrically this track follows a toxic relationship with McAllister baring all with lines such as “I am the cracks in the pavement filled with gum/Be my pedestrian, baby, I am used to getting stepped on ” showcasing his expertise as a writer. This flies straight into ‘The Enemies Of Happiness Are Not Napping!’ a far more energetic track with a sense of manic urgency, named after the same quote from Ygeveny Zamyatin’s groundbreaking 1924 dystopian sci-fi novel WE as the album’s title, this track launches straight out the gate with high-tempo, distorted acoustic guitar riffs and frenzied punk drumming accompanying McAllister’s hysterical, emo inspired wailing with equally angsty lyrics to match.
Related: “Human connection is surely the end point of all of it” – Introducing Toodles & The Hectic Pity
The album’s lead single ‘Emotionally Unclean’ is the closest Toodles have come to a radio friendly hit with their signature lyrical depth. This single is a comparatively optimistic breath of fresh air on an album full of introspective self-criticism exploring the paradoxical need for both personal space to grow and work on your own mental health while requiring affirmation from others. Even with its catchy chorus and bouncy, mid-tempo instrumentals and poppy feel, ‘Emotionally Unclean’ retains the band’s intellectual integrity and finds a perfect balance between entertaining and poetic.
“A devastatingly emotional debut album that wavers between energetic folk-punk and cosy indie with effortless ease”
Closing song ‘Pedestrian Baby Part 2’ continues Part 1’s introspective tone with a more hopeful tone than its predecessor. With a time jump in the narrative ‘Pedestrian Baby Part 2’ follows the aftermath of a toxic relationship and the joy of freedom to grow on your own, told through McAllister’s expectedly imaginative and dramatic lyrics. Starting off with mellow atmospheres and guitar chords accompanying delicate vocals, this closing track builds to a joyous, ecstatic explosion of noise to end the album on a high note, fading out with one last victorious chord and ringing feedback.
Hold Onto Happiness With Both Hands is a layered, intricately constructed experience that brings the listener into its world through frontman Callum McAllister’s deep and intimate lyrics. With tight, varied instrumentals Toodles & The Hectic Pity provide a devastatingly emotional debut album that wavers between energetic folk-punk and cosy indie with effortless ease.