The Mulhollands make music a family affair. Jol, the one man band behind Mulholland, is the brother of fellow The Mots band members and Motocade alumni Will and Eden, the solo album of the latter, Feed the Beast, I had the pleasure of reviewing last year. 

Give it time. Like the Finns, the Mulhollands may just become the new first family of New Zealand music, especially if the strength of Jol’s second solo release, Stop & Start Again, is anything to go by.

While not alienating for seasoned fans of Jol’s work, it should be immediately evident from the first listen that Mulholland is a separate musical entity to his brother and his bands gone by. Stop & Start Again stands alone without the back story of ties and connections I’ve laid out in the first half of this review. Stop & Start Again is as individual as one man’s fleshing out of the songs in his head is expected to be, while still managing to fit within an aesthetic that guarantees radio play. 

That said there’s a few Liam Finn twangs here and there, perhaps in no small part an artifact of Mulholland’s involvement as part of the Liam Finn band during the Nihilist era. Despite the connection, and the stylistic similarities Stop & Start Again is not an attempt to cash in with Finn fans, though both of these factors should make this a desirable release and a breath of fresh air for those buried in the Nihilist since its April release.

Despite splatterings of the melancholic through the track names, lyrics and themes, the music of Stop & Start Again is bright.  Upbeat, synthed up and packed with hooking ear worms the music is slightly pop, with just enough of that indie sound to satisfy those in and out of the mainstream.

New fans, old fans, or listeners who enjoy a good hook, a snappy beat and a soothing voice with a hell of a range should definitely check out Stop & Start Again. The album is available from iTunes or for download and stream from Bandcamp.

• 1
  Take Hold
• 2
  Coridian
• 3
  Devilskin
• 4
  Skinny Hobos
• 5
  L.A.B.
• 6
  Head Like A Hole
• 7
  Katchafire
• 8
  Shihad
• 9
  Blindspott
• 10
  Written By Wolves

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• 1
  TOO SWEET
  Hozier
• 2
  BEAUTIFUL THINGS
  Benson Boone
• 3
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 4
  LIKE THAT
  Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
• 5
  END OF BEGINNING
  Djo
• 6
  I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
  Artemas
• 7
  WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
  Ariana Grande
• 8
  STICK SEASON
  Noah Kahan
• 9
  TEXAS HOLD 'EM
  Beyonce
• 10
  LEAVEMEALONE
  Fred Again.. And Baby Keem

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