Posts about Mum
Though I didn’t go to Housing Works Bookstore Café where Ólöf Arnalds shared the bill with Björk, her show at Sycamore two nights prior was probably the perfect way to experience this quirky Icelandic songstress (Ólöf, not Björk). Sycamore is a small bar in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with a lovely backyard, a sensible layout, friendly people, and a tiny yet awesome performance space downstairs, which with its wide slabs of wooden benches looks like it was inspired by a sauna room, and which, as Ólöf demonstrated, is great for acoustic performances, even when unamplified; it’s now easily my new favorite venue (and we’re presenting a show there on the 26th, so mark your calendar and stay tuned). It’s part flower shop!
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Download “Klara”
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Last night was my second time watching Múm since they formed a new line-up. At St. Paul the Apostle Church last year (pictures at the end of this post) I found the band’s Wordless performance to be lacking. They’d said they’d written up a special set list to complement the very special venue, but what appeared to be a toning-down of their whimsical percussive sound, especially the drumming, seemed like the wrong choice to me. I thought the opening trio Torngat (more on them later) outdid Múm in making a truly awesome use of the venue’s awesome presence. But last night at Brooklyn Masonic Temple, with no special setlist, I felt the same void in the new Múm. The performance was very good, and at times straight-up great, but with the new members, or I should say with the absence of Kria Brekken, Múm is a different band.
All photos and more after the jump
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Download “Dancing Behind My Eyelids” from Mum’s website (requires email address)
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So far as it can inferred from the sound of “Dancing Behind My Eyelids”, which you can trade for your email address on the band’s website, and “They Made Frogs Smoke Til They Exploded”, which now has an animated video, the new Mum is sounding cheerful. This, considering the album they gave us last, Summer Make Good, was not quite a summer album (if one were to make a quick, misguided guess from the title). Instead, it stretched with mournful longings, drawing pictures of dark clouds, icy water and a harsh, winter landscape. And as if the album’s dreary weather wasn’t obvious, song titles such as “Small Deaths are the Saddest” and “Weeping Rock, Rock” served as reassurances. But for now, from the upcoming Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy that comes out on September 24, something far brighter.
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Mum is playing two Wordless Music Series dates in New York, on Nov 9 and 10th.
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Though Kristin Anna Valtysdottir followed the footsteps of her twin sister Gyoano in parting with Mum, the two founding members, Gunnar and Orvar, have added new friends to turn into a seven-piece. They will release go go smear the poison ivy on September 24th, preceeded by the single they made frogs smoke ’til they exploded on August 27th. After playing a handful of festival dates in Europe, and other yet-to-be-announced shows, they will play New York’s Wordless Music Series on October 9 & 10.
New members are:
Olof Arnalds (violin / viola / guitar / vocals)
Eiríkur Orri (trumpet / pianette / moog / whistling)
Hildur Gudnadottir (cello / vocals)
mr.Silla (Vocals / various)
Samuli Kosminen (drums / percussion)
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As previously posted, Beirut, Mum and others will be playing the next season of Wordless Music Series. Some dates have now been listed by Pitchfork:
09-14 Do Make Say Think, TBA
09-24 Beirut, Colleen, TBA
09-25 Beirut, Colleen, TBA
09-26 Beirut, Colleen, TBA
10-09 Mum, TBA
10-10 Mum, TBA
Previously:
Download Beirut’s KEXP SXSW session (from NPR)
(Pictured: Iceland’s Múm)
Yes, in other Wordless Music news, I am psyched for its second season that begins in September. Beirut will play three nights, though dates are yet to be confirmed- or if they have been, they haven’t been announced yet. The season will also feature Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead in addition to Múm, Do Make Say Think, Max Richter, Bing & Ruth, Valgeir Sigurdsson, Nico Muhly, etc.
hooves on the turf is a mostly-music blog based out of brooklyn. i can be reached at hoovesontheturf [at] gmail [dot] com - please send me your lovely music as an attached mp3 or an mp3 link. if i like what you send, i'll be sure to ask for more.
