Impact
Site Admin Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 3258 Location: Pinecrest, FL	Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 11:46 am    Post subject: Band Review :: Mum   Artist :: Mum Genre :: Electronic Locale of origin :: Iceland Necessary Albums :: Finally we are no one and Yesterday was dramatic, Today is ok Rating = 10/10 Forget Aphex Twin. Forget DJ Shadow. Forget every underground techno/electronic band that I haven't heard and that you call me ignorant for not knowing of. I know this is saying a lot, but Mum is the best computerized music in existence. The best. Mum is from Iceland, a country that has been producing a lot of interesting and very good music lately. The group consists of two guys who program the music and a chick who programs and sings. I would tell you their names, but some of the letters are not in our alphabet. Their tones are amazing: clicks, bangs, reverberated sitars, clangs, hi hats, pings, pongs, whines, bells, horns, strings, and many that cannot even be described with our language. I can't get enough of the unique noises Mum comes up with. They combine them in the most unpredictable but fitting manner. The melodies are often high pitched and always beautiful. The only vocals are when the female of the group sings. She sounds like she is about 12 years old. Her voice is haunting, but at the same time relaxing, with a hint of sadness. Nonetheless, she hits her notes perfectly, precisely on the intended wavelength. The rhythms bring purpose to the music. They are complex, but not to the point where one cannot follow them. Half of the sounds are on a distinctive steady beat, while the rest are on a more random sequence, but still complete the pattern and cause the music to flow like a river. My final praise for this group is their fills. In electronic music, it is easy to create a repetitive sequence, but is extremely difficult to incorporate variations of it and add in fills. Mum not only accomplishes this, but incorporates it as one of the main ideas in their music. Each sound is programmed so delicately that while it fits perfectly, it may not have even two identical measures throughout the entire song. All in all this music is peaceful. Mum is best utilized as a sedative when trying to go to bed. I love going to sleep to either of the albums listed above. I also recommend them for the following: When driving at night (especially when giant snowflakes are falling) As background when studying or reading As a cure for writers block When contemplating life Mum's music is meant to be taken as a whole album, as ideas occur consistently throughout each CD. Everyone needs to give this group a chance. If you aren't a fan of techno, you will become one. If you love techno, you will forget to breathe when you hear Mum. If this review has not convinced you to listen to them, then forget you ever read it and listen to them anyway, because there is no justifying way to describe perfect music.
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