10 fragmentary, lo-fi acoustic tracks that sound like either the first bursts of inspiration from someone just learning the guitar, or a recorded solitary breakdown by someone who used to get out more. Either way, “Music For Moles” never fails to fascinate, creep out, and worry the listener. For added immediacy, all was recorded on the memory function of a Sony cell phone. Gillicuddy walks the line between madness and pretending to be mad, which adds to the anxiety of listening to the set.

Most of these songs came from the same “session” that produced Gillicuddy’s last ep, “the repeating thoughts…” it is hard to tell whether fragments like “Dirty Dawn,” “Sham fight with daylight” or “clumsy mole” are playing it straight or are merely odd for odd’s sake. Others like “gone” and “instrumental #1” are maddening, because they are great. But why are they great? Becvause they are honest and totally from the gut? Because they are a perfect parody of the hundreds of lo-fi Syd Barrett wannabees out there in home recordingland? I can see the ads now: “If P.T. Barnum could only listen to one record this year, it would be “Music For Moles” by Gillicuddy!”

I think in the end you have to side with greatness. Any record that runs you through anger, resentment, scorn and wonder depending on when you listen to it, must have something genuine to it. Yep, this is one of those limited release things, so unless you are numbers 1-40 or the label produces more, all of this may be a theoretical exercise only. But try and find it tosee what I mean. 7/10 -- Mike Wood (10 February, 2010)