Description
Tony Molina has been putting out records with marked consistency for well over twenty years. Underpinned by an unwavering ethos of independence and an unrelenting devotion to songcraft, his music ties together a passion for the history and tradition of song writing/production with a steadfast work ethic and an uncanny ability to exemplify and transcend those inspirations. Be it pop, folk or even classical, Molina’s talent lies in his continuing work of distilling the elements of hook, riff and melody to their most basic yet totally compelling forms.
His new record "On This Day" might be the most Tony Molina album yet – an achingly beautiful set of 21 songs that feels like a choice selection of lost singles (or deep cuts). The album was produced and recorded by Tony and Alicia Vanden Heuvel (The Aislers Set) to 8 track ½" analog tape in their San Francisco home studio. Hammond and piano tracks were recorded with longtime Molina collaborator Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden, and mixing duties were handled by Nick Bassett. The album was augmented by contributions from live bandmates Rachel Orimo (vocals), Stephen Oriolo (guitar), and Steve Kerwin (drums), as well as long-time friend (and Ladybug Transistor founder) Gary Olson on trumpet.
The unhurried home recording process gave them plenty of time to experiment and hone the arrangements, adding Mellotron, piano, organ, bells and more to exquisite effect. Songs like “Ghosts of Punishment Past”, "Livin' Wrong" and “FC23” could be lost singles on the legendary Autumn label, echoing with the ghosts of the 60s folk rock explosion. “Despise the Sun” pays tribute to Heron’s landmark 1970 self-titled album (also home recorded, though entirely outdoors). “Don’t Belong” is yet another attempt at channeling December’s Children, as we saw previously with Tony’s 2023 LP with The Lost Days. The gently fluid folk of "Take Some Time" is a perfect companion to the Bill Fox-meets-Byrds rendition of "Just As The Tide Was Flowing," a traditional tune memorialized by the legendary Shirley Collins.
Baroque/psych-pop gems "Faded Holiday" and "No Place To Turn" foreground Tony's way with chord structure and the concise arrangements that are a continual delight throughout the record. Album highlight (and craftily adapted Eric Andersen cover) "Violets of Dawn" is all jangling 12-strings and cascading harmonies -- a gorgeously succinct 2:15 of pop perfection. While Tony also shows his prodigious guitar skills with several classical interludes, lovers of guitar racket get a supreme treat in "Have Your Way" - a one minute blast of The Who via Henry's Dress-esque scree.
We could analyze all 21 songs (and there is so much more to say) but really the right way to approach this is just to *listen* to "On This Day" as a whole. This is an album in the truest sense - a cycle of songs linked by mood, melody, hook and purpose, and not by accident it's Tony's finest yet.