The latest release from
Mùm, an
indie electronica group from
Iceland, probably not coincidentally the same place that produced
Björk and
Sigur Rós. Their record label
Thule Iceland describes them as a group of "
painfully ordinary kids from a
middle class background." Who, in this case, have produced a real gem in a sea of
electronic laptop-created
blandness.
They take their influence from the post-Autechre world of IDM and the likes of Kid 606 and Matmos, sculpting music from an atomic collection of glitchy clicks, trills, fizz, and pings--but unlike the purists, they don't hesitate to add a real live trumpet or upright bass when called for. What further sets them apart is the sparkling purity of the samples they mix--the music has an expressive texture and vibe that adds depth to even a static pop. Mix in some mad beats and strains of gorgeous melodies and you have a hell of a record.
Morr Music also released a remix of this album entitled Please Smile My Noise Bleed, featuring Styrofoam, Isan, Phonem, Christian Kleine, Arovane, and B. Fleischmann.