Mundane Hope by Cracked Hands

We first encountered Cracked Hands during Lace Thief's gig at Rough Trade in September, and it was clear that a follow-up review was essential. Cracked Hands, a Nottingham-based spoken word duo composed of Milla Tebbs and Tom Hooley, weave tumbling melodies with poetic, often introspective observations. Their 5-track EP, Mundane Hope, released on the 20th of September, is a hypnotic journey through trance-driven guitar riffs, ethereal soundscapes, and deeply personal narratives.

Milla’s emotive, raw delivery adds a profound layer to each track, with lines like “This body is my last address, but I’ve been handed an eviction notice, and I lost it down my spine, it had papercuts on every vertebrate” (Track: No Forwarding Address). Such imagery stirs a sense of vulnerability and reflection. Meanwhile, on Big Ball of Gas, she captures an intimate, fleeting moment with the line, “What’s your favourite time of day?...the first time she smiles at me,” evoking warmth amid dreamy riffs, soft bells, and hypnotic ambient textures.

Each track on Mundane Hope feels like a chapter in a storybook—one that marries music and spoken word in a way that’s both soothing and provocative. The EP is a thoughtful and stirring contribution to the growing wave of music that merges art, narrative, and sound. Cracked Hands have crafted something truly special, inviting listeners to lose themselves in both melody and meaning.

So go give them a listen and expand your musical horizons—Mundane Hope is a refreshing dive into the emotional and poetic depths of sound.