múm Album: “Finally We Are No One”

What Mum has done with their latest release has been a near 180 on the post rock genre: instead of over-orchestrating and creating gigantic crescendos, this disc remains original and almost transcendent of the limitless genre of "post rock" due to it's minimalist and almost acoustic take on music. By taking light melodies and looping them throughout the entire piece, inserting minor variations and adding the occassional organic instrument to color it, Mum has created an almost uncatergorical volume of muusic.

While this band has been compared to many IDM revolutionaries (Boards of Canada, Aphex,) and the post rock bands (GSYBE!, Sigur Ros), not much of the influence can be heard there. The only real comparison of them all is the fact that they're wholly original, and so is Mum: not writing music to incite you but music to enchant you in an almost osmotic way. The songs are enchanting in an physical way: you can see landscapes when listening to the music, almost as if it's a soundtrack to an unmade movie.

The real shining aspect of this entire disc is the minimalism of it: It isn't overproduced, it isn't over orchestrated, and each song does NOT take you on a path between high and lows. It's not a collection of songs but a cd that works with both functions: active listening and background music. It's music that serves Brian Eno's idealistic dream of existing for all contexts, which makes it one of the best albums of the year. Get a copy.

Imagine you are a kid again, no worries in the world, and you're at a magical amusement park, like disneyland or something, or a world where you can have all the toys you imagine and explore huge castles with dancing rainbow clowns... or a children's mini-golf course or amusement park with many wonderous structures of never-ending fun and exploration, on a perfect sunny summer day (not too hot) with checkerboard-patterned colorful grass, (I'm thinking of the Super Nintendo game Kirby's Dream Course...that game was fun) music boxes, and flying singing happy flowers... (I seriously don't do any drugs)

I know, the idea of this music being "a childish world of toys" and stuff has tired out, but it's indeed a very fitting description. This music also reminds me so much of fun old video games, a lot of songs would fit in games.

OK... Now to talk about what the music actually sounds like. There is mostly odd electronic rhythms and strange noises, along with synthesized (I think) violins and horns reminiscant of Italy, and crystal clear electronic beeps and loops. There are even some vocals. They are extremely soft and high. I can't really tell if they're male or female, or even human... they seriously sound like flowers.

Only the first few songs seem to be more upbeat and crazy like I've described above. The rest are more relaxing. Most of the album reminds me a lot of Tortoise, with a slightly more electronic feel. Also, a band with song titles this outrageous has got to be good.

"Green Grass of Tunnel" starts with a music box type sound and goes into a nice shuffling beat with quaint litle melodies.

"Don't Be Afraid, You Have Just Got Your Eyes Closed" is one of the best songs on the album. The flow of this song is excellent, sounds totally different at start than at finish and really builds up to a great climax. Starts out with a pulsing rhythm and charmingly odd melodies that go along with it, introducing new things and changing them along the way, eventually adding the sound of brass instruments, then fading away.

The rest of the songs are way more ambient and relaxing.

All in all, this is a very worthy electronic album for your collection, especially if you like any of the bands I mentioned above or you just have a brain that likes the more creative musical realm.

With the second album from Mum who hails from the land of quiet musical wonders, Iceland, they have created an artful masterpiece that's both emotional and intriguing.

What diffentiates them from their fellow compatriots, another revered band Sigur Ros, is that their excellent blend of electronica and sounds from the nature while Sigur Ros relies a lot on drama-building theatrics. For instance, on Behind Two Hills, a tranquil melody is accompanied by the sounds of water deropping and forming a ripple. It's unbelieveably real listening it through a stereo in a quiet place.

Each track though distinct, often flows seamlessly to another, creating a CD which you will definitely run through all the tracks once it's in the player. My favorite track on the CD would have to be Don't Be Afraid, You Have Just Got Your Eyes Closed. It's actually a quirky upbeat songs among the rest.

Pick this up if you are a fan of Sigur Ros and Borads of Canada. I am going to check out their debut effort.

im from the caribbean, so musically im a bit shut out from outside influences and rely on cdnow to research music, i came across this band sigur ros and thought their style...genre to be quite an eye opener..then i thought hmmm maybe i try this band.....mum, and i was blown away its hard to say what genre they are its like electronica crossed with ambient noise and lo fi beats....trip hop....i was well impressed with the talent that seems to come from this country iceland...music seems to be pure and experimental, when in todays music scene its all about making the bling blings...the dollars and living it big and all show...but this band is heart felt and real.......i think i would like any band tha come from iceland...thanks alot sigur ros and mum for elevating my musical hunger.

my initial introduction to mum was actually reading a review here, and now i guess im returning the favor. this album is full of masterful beats, vocals, and is overall very creative, and has a lullaby type vibe which will put you to sleep on those nights where you just cant do it on your own. like several other reviewers said, the vocals are haunting at parts, which makes the song seem otherworldly. i dont really have much else to say, except if you happen to see this CD anywhere, buy it. youll be doing yourself a huge favor.