Velvet Grooves

Being a big Múm fan, it's really great to hear news of new Múm stuff coming out - it has been a long wait from their last album, so new stuff is eagerly awaited. When I heard of the new LP (coming out next year), my excitement-ometer flew to the top, and I dug out their older stuff. Now I'm happy to review a CD release of their 'Peel Session' they did all those years back.

We're treated to live renditions of 'Scratched Bicycle/Smell Memory', 'Awoke On A Train', 'Now There Is That Fear Again' and the 'Ballad Of The Broken String'. The first three tracks being from the first releases, and I think the last one being previously unreleased... not sure.... but either way, it just shows you how great Múm sound live as well as studio produced. They're in a league of their own, producing beautiful music. We're once again familiarised with their magic ways of mixing electronic and analogue sounds. It sounds beautiful.

'Scratched Bicycle' is a great way to start off the session, as it's a great introduction - if you've not heard Múm before, this is a great way of easing you in. Swirling sounds with reversed loops, dreamy tones and xylophones - it's like a child cartoon version of Kristen (of Múm) is trying to ride her bike, but keeps falling off. We're smoothly led into 'Smell Memory which is a more active stage of their music - full on clicktronica with a nice melody leading the track along - leading into something like possibly Aphex Twin. 'Awake On A Train' leads into Múm at their more melodic, with drum samples layered, along to a piano based melody with Kristin’s backing vocals on the 'La La'. This is just great! It gets even better towards the 2nd half though - as we're led with a steadier beat along small guitar picking against an Accordion (maybe?), with the occasional electronic loop kicking in. Just awesome.

'Now There Is That Fear Again' comes from their 'Yesterday Was Dramatic...' LP. Highly haunting with the heavy Chellos and Kristin’s' childish vocals, but again, it's a fantastic track reminding me of why when I listen to Múm I get the hairs raising on my neck.... their music is so powerful - the childish voice making it evermore. Mix this with the drums and Spanish guitar - I can't quite get enough...

'The Ballad Of The Broken String' I think is a new one, but still hair raising - full on the Cello’s, highly sad with the Accordion acting as the cherry on top. Then when things start to get a little tiring, we get some electric noises coming in...

I feel this is more a bit of a kudos and goodbye to Kristin, due to her departure from the band earlier this year. She won’t be back on the new album at all, so take this as a good memory – but she’s working on other projects for Fatcat.

Supposedly the band has grown into a bigger line-up, so hopefully the next album will be as fantastic as their previous.