Gardening with the Icelandic Core

[dotinthesky]

Somewhere beyond the land of Slowcore, Tweecore, Noisecore and Bleepycore lives múm (originally from Iceland). There are seven of them - three women and four guys. They seek inspiration in computers as well as traditional musical instruments, which they all play well. They harmonise like happy Smurfs and dance maniacally to songs nobody else can dance to.

Kevin, who happens to be on their mailing list, found out weeks ago about tonight's gig at the Museum of Garden History (an old church facing the House of Parliament, with barely enough space for a hundred people, and walls decorated with old shovels). We joined the crowd of lean blondes and elegantly messy students on the church's courtyard, just before the doors opened. An orderly line up was formed and we were soon inside, close to the stage and the fatal sound speakers.

Songs from múm's new album, go go smear the poison ivy, made me think of Rosemary's Baby, shards of my beer bottle in the face of the girl behind me, Satan our Lord levitating above the crowd then flying through the glass windows, ABBA, and the already-above-mentioned-Smurfs. Just as the eardrums' drilling was surpassing my psychotic episode limits, the band performed their last song and said their goodbyes.

They were excellent, in a there-is-nobody-out-there-like-them kind of way. múm are going their own merry way, happy for us to tag along, but not too bothered if we fall by the wayside (kind of like one of their compatriots, Björk). It's great to know that some music is still being made with its own internal logic, its unique melodies, its complete disregard for what's fashionable or marketable.

Comments

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

They really do make a wonderful noise. I saw them here the summer before last, slightly different lineup, playing in the open-air courtyard of the Museum of Fine Arts. It was a lovely, warm evening.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I imagine that would have been a great evening. Their sound calls for the open air or for small surroundings.

[sallypointzero.livejournal.com]

seriously good gig revue (quick apply for NME!) but I have no intentions of seeing that band. Ever.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Never say Never. ;-)

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

why not?

[olamina.livejournal.com]

i immediately saw that picture and decided i need to be friends with those people...in the meantime i will seek out their music.

thanks for the review!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy their music.

mum

[noondaydemon.livejournal.com]

They sound great - your review whet my appetite for their music/ethos:-)

Re: mum

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

They are really special, worth checking out.

[amanda-mary.livejournal.com]

Is their recorded music worth a listen, or is it something that needs to be experienced live?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Their recorded stuff is just as great as the live music. You can get a taster of their music at their MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mumtheband

[dilvsy.livejournal.com]

I like quirky bands like that, where they just make the music for the sake of creating it, and damn the charts!!!!

I should check these guys out, do you think I'd like them?

[woodsrule.livejournal.com]

The charts be damned!! Hear hear!... I'm really intrigued now as well... I like bands that MEAN it somehow...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Go forth my children and check them out!

[dilvsy.livejournal.com]

I'm the same!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I think you would! Check out their MySpace (linked somewhere else in this comments' section) and then go from there.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

has comprado el disco nuevo? I get to see them a month after I get back! I see Bierut two or three days after I return.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Beirut are playing here this week (i believe!) If I weren't poor, I'd go see them. :-/

I think they said at the gig that their new album only comes out in a month's time. From what I heard at the gig, it's a winner.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

It´s less calm than the others, though?

I can´t wait to see Beirut, I´ll try to take notes. I´,m going with J, the ex-girlfriend of V, my New-Old Friend´s roommate. Remember? I told her if she bought the tix to Múm I´d buy the ones to Beirut.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It's not necesseraly less calm... it's just bigger in sound, louder. And frostier, if that makes any sense.

Not sure yet if I'll see Beirut here. I might try to get the tickets on my credit card.

[gorecky22.livejournal.com]

OMG!!! I'm on múm's mailing list, too, but obviously I didn't apply for a ticket 'cause I couldn't have gone (too far away for me). But I saw them on Primavera Sound on june and they were AMAZING. Not as I expected (well, listening to their previous albums you should expect quietness and beautiness), but a show full of hope and dancing tunes!!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Yes, I didn't expect their new sound either, and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm looking forward to the new album.