Bones to Wrap Blankets Around - Mood Spill’s debut album is a delight
Naarm/Melbourne band Mood Spill have been making magic for a while.
A virtuosic five-piece of multi-instrumentalists absolutely oozing with creativity, the band has finally released their full-length debut Bones to Wrap Blankets Around - and it’s an absolute bolt of lightning.
Forming in 2022 after an impromptu jam between members Tom Riccioni, Bailey Brown, Georgia-Grace Buckingham, Oli Morley-Sattler and Adrian Verna, Mood Spill is a group of like-minded and collaborative souls. Sounding like a mix of modern indie artists such as Big Thief and Black Country, New Road along with classic acts Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young, Mood Spill is exactly as their name describes: an endless pool of emotion and inspiration.
After a seriously formidable self titled debut EP (click here for our review) that garnered local and national buzz, Mood Spill have steadily gigged, jammed and recorded music culminating in this week’s nine-track album - Bones to Warp Blankets Around - and let me tell you, it’s an outstanding record. With four of the members taking lead vocal and songwriting duties, the LP live up to it’s title - it feels like a warm hug from an old friend.
@mood_spill Bones to Wrap Blankets Around
The nine-track album is a genre blending mix of melodic indie rock and folk with a deeply live feel. It sounds exactly like five friends who have absolutely nailed down their shared tone.
Rich harmonies, changes in tempo and feel, cosy dynamics and anecdotal tales paint a picture of a everyday life at it’s purest.
Opening track Sing Song acts as a beautiful welcome to the world of Bones. Singers Tom Riccioni and Georgia-Grace Buckingham ask their audience “Do you want me to sing?” over a gentle acoustic guitar and organ - listeners are welcomed into the intimate sonic landscape of the record.
Single Oh My Goodness is like a punch in the heart - a massively powerful expression of passion through music. Imagery of inflatable salesmen and empty wine bottles build to a powerful group chorus, while Tom delivers a stunningly revealing lead vocal. This song is just immaculate. “You pulled me in, hugged it out. A solid friend hangs around.”
Oli Morley-Sattler takes lead on next track Both Hands - a groovy rocker about unrequited love.
Georgia-Grace returns on Requiem, bringing with her a shoegazey wall of sound guitar tone. The heaviest track on the album, the band considers balancing act of toxic relationships. “Holding onto an anchor is a sure way to drown”.
Of course, there is yet another lead vocalist - Bailey Brown. Bailey’s tune is Deep, a watery and reflective cut, and an experiment in rhythm and dynamics showing off Brown’s pen.
Flipping over the record, Tom and Georgia-Grace exchange lead duties again on Good Distraction - a high energy Australiana rocker packed with flare. A true rock number, a shredding solo ends the track as the singers duel overhead.
Another couple of singles, Emma Rose Goes to Japan is a sweet trip into daily domesticity through centring. Riccioni takes us into a life lead through the simple things on this track and the next Can’t Stop Smiling, a soft acoustic ballad with fantastic lap steel guitar. My favourite line of the whole album is on this latter track: “Thomas the tank engine, I see your light coming - a glimpse of the tunnel ending as Ringo’s Starrs are shining up the sky, confusing the day with well lit night”. Marvellous
Buckingham closes out the album with Build A Friend - a gentle reflection on love and companionship. Soft lap steel guitar and Wurlitzer create a smooth canvas over which Georgia-Grace constructs the perfect companion. A deeply thoughtful ending to a deeply thoughtful album.
A really impressive full-length debut from a band that has put in the work, Bones to Wrap Blankets Around is a great release. My favourite songs were Oh My Goodness, Build A Friend, and Sing Song - check out the record here.