Múm – “Finally We Are No One”
Tracks:
- Sleep / Swim
- Green Grass of Tunnel
- We Have a Map of the Piano
- Don’t Be Afraid, You Have Just Got Your Eyes Closed
- Behind Two Hills … A Swimmingpool
- K / Half Noise
- Now There’s That Fear Again
- Faraway Swimmingpool
- I Can’t Fell My Hand Any More, It’s Alright, Sleep Still
- Finally We Are No One
- The Land Between Solar Systems
This CD kept showing up on my recommendations list at Amazon.Com. The reviews were very favorable there and on other sites. So I figured I would give it a try.
(From left): Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir, Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, Gyða Valtýsdóttir, and Gunnar Örn Tynes
The quartet from Iceland, though now down to a trio (Gyða left the band), plays electronica with vocals from time to time. However, they mix in a lot of real instruments like accordion, cello, and others. Originally the album was titled “Loksins Erum Við Engin” and can only assume that the English title is a translation, as are the song titles. (They seem to have a thing about swimming and swimming pools.) The vocals are in English, but I don’t know if they were re-recorded for this release.
Now this album is not for everyone. I really like it, because at times it is very haunting, and at times very beautiful. The melodies can be very, well I guess sweet or cute are the best word to describe it. And the vocals are rather hushed, and what can be best described as child-like, but not immature. I remember reading somewhere that the intention with some songs was to sound like children’s songs or lullabies. They hit that pretty well. Though it may not help some of you, the band’s sound is somewhere between Sigur Ros and Boards of Canada. And from what I read, all the members are classically trained musicians.
Anyway, it is filled with some very cool sounds, especially in the rhythmic department. Even if the song isn’t moving very fast, the sounds are very cool. Almost industrial in a way. The best way to describe them is “wet slew”, a filter found in the sound software program SoundForge that you can alter samples of music with.
October 28th, 2005 at 7:32 am
Hey I haven’t seen any Jazz groups make it onto the list…..whats up with that???? I thought for sure I would have seen The Rippingtons make it on. Every CD the “YOU” turn me onto has been packed full of great songs from start to finish. Also don’t forget the smooth sounds of the one and only Bony James, which by the way was in concert here last night, wish I could have made it there. Ok sorry for the rant about Jazz but someone had to say it!
October 28th, 2005 at 7:39 am
I did one on Weather Report.
Yes, the jazz albums would be coming soon. Believe me, with over 1000 CD’s, there are many favorites.
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:59 am
[...] I had this album, the band’s third, and their first album “Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today is OK” on my WISH LIST at Amazon.Com for a while now. After falling in love with “Finally We Are No One” (their second album), I wanted to make sure I got their other material. This one has not disappointed at all. [...]