Hecla & Griper was named after the ships Arctic explorer William Parry used for three expeditions, both military ships turned to exploration instead (or maybe the bay named after them that splits the Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Despite the name, there’s nothing particularly chilly about the songs here; over a brief set of songs directed at “dear Albion”, a “rich kid”, and others, the band gallops as often as they pause and Molina seems a little less heartbroken (for the most part) than he is on many of his albums. “Pass”, “East Last Heart”, and “Darling” are more wise-ass rather than despairingly cynical. By some musicians’ standards the atmosphere here is gloomy; for Molina, it’s practically a party.