The self-titled debut from Halifax-based collective Hot Mondy is not one worth missing if you’re a country fan. Though what makes the project so intriguing has little to do with country music at all.
The record, at times, can feel a lot more like a film score than any traditional country album you might have heard. “It was not something we set out to do at the beginning,” says Matt Brannon, the group’s bassist, “As we were developing these seedlings with our producer it just kept wanting to go there. I’m a big fan of epic music, we all love film and Michael our producer is a proper visionary so we just didn’t fight it.”
The group set out to Toronto to record with famed producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda (Buffy Sainte-Marie, Barenaked Ladies), a decision that certainly paid dividends for the end result.
For just a six-track EP, Hot Mondy flashes a lot of range within their stylistic avenue. They make great use of choir-like vocal performances, luscious string arrangements, and a plethora of other elements that only enhance the immersiveness of the project. A true testament to the eclectic nature of the group and its origins.
“We got together at the beginning to cover and perform outlaw country music,” says Brannon, “We fell in love with it right away though, played some shows, and had a blast. Very quickly, however, we realized how much we liked one another, how easy the friendships were, and how much creative flow was in the band, so we just started writing… We all bring our varied musical backgrounds into the band so it’s really hard to pin… We all dig each other’s taste so it’s a culture of curiosity.”
The group’s origins in outlaw country are certainly hard to miss throughout the project. Tracks like “Desert Moonlight,” for example, are certainly evocative of an old western. Brannon described the project’s closing track, “Naked Stars,” as an homage to the late composer Ennio Morricone.
While the project certainly leans west, there is no escaping the east coast rock elements that emerge as well on tracks like “Pale Ember” and “Tell Me I’m Good”. The latter of the two is more reminiscent of an Acadian kitchen party than any wild west town.
It may not have been their intention from the beginning, but Hot Mondy’s self-titled debut is an epic, energetic, and often cinematic country-rock album that fans of the genre will have no trouble enjoying. This may have been the group’s debut release, but they show a lot of potential and a clear understanding of crafting an engaging and exciting project.
The album’s lead single, “Pale Ember” is available to be streamed via your favourite listening platform, but the full album is currently only available to those who have purchased the vinyl (ships out September 1) or the high-res audio version. Both can be purchased on HotMondy.com