Múm
Encyclopedia
múm are an experimental
Iceland
ic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch
beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.
, who were joined a year later by twin sisters Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir
. According to Kristín, the band's name was not intended to mean anything. In 2002, after the first American tour, Gyða left the band to return to her studies in Reykjavík
. Shortly after Gyða left, Ásthildur Valtýsdóttir joined for singing duties and Serena Tideman
replaced Gyða on cello for a European tour. Then the ensemble evolved to include Ólöf Arnalds
and Hildur Guðnadóttir
. In early 2006, Kristín also left the band, although it was not officially announced until November 23 of that year.
Despite the departure of some of its members múm has remained together as a collective of musicians. Their fourth album, recorded during 2006, was released on 24 September 2007, entitled Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy
.
múm toured the East Coast of the US with German musician Volker "Hauschka" Bertelmann
In November 2007,.
They returned in Spring 2008 with the same set list. Both tours included songs from the album, Go, Go Smear the Poison Ivy.
On 27 August 2008, they announced on their official website that "Múm is quietly but surely [working on] their new album. No release date has been etched in stone, but every day will bring it closer." múm also released several pictures of themselves during the recording process on their My Space page.
During a 22 May 2009 concert in Burgos
, Spain, múm played songs from their newest album Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know
. It was released as a download
through Gogoyoko
on 17 August 2009, and on CD on 24 August 2009.
Múm will launch in December 2011 an EP with traditional Icelandic Christmas songs. There are two songs plus one extra track.
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch
Glitch (music)
Glitch is a term used to describe a genre of electronic music that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The glitch aesthetic is characterized by a deliberate use of glitch based sonic artifacts that would normally be viewed as unwanted disturbances reducing the overall sound quality and are thus...
beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.
History
The band was formed in 1997 by original members Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson SmárasonÖrvar Þóreyjarson Smárason
Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason is a founding member of Icelandic experimental band múm and has been a part time member of other Icelandic bands such as Benni Hemm Hemm, Singapore Sling, Slowblow, Skakkamanage, FM Belfast and Represensitive Man. In his native country he is also known as a poet/author...
, who were joined a year later by twin sisters Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir
Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir
Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir is an Icelandic vocalist and classically trained multi-instrumentalist. She is best known as a former frontperson of múm, and later on for collaborating with former husband David Portner as Avey Tare & Kría Brekkan....
. According to Kristín, the band's name was not intended to mean anything. In 2002, after the first American tour, Gyða left the band to return to her studies in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. Shortly after Gyða left, Ásthildur Valtýsdóttir joined for singing duties and Serena Tideman
Serena Tideman
Serena Tideman is a US born composer and classical and improvisational cellist who resides in Port Townsend,Washington.-Career:Serena Tideman is considered minimalist and New Wave, and also composes melodramatic popular songs. She has toured with múm, an experimental Icelandic music group...
replaced Gyða on cello for a European tour. Then the ensemble evolved to include Ólöf Arnalds
Ólöf Arnalds
Ólöf Arnalds is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. Apart from her own music and being a touring member of Múm since 2003, she has cooperated with bands and artists such as Stórsveit Nix Noltes, Mugison,...
and Hildur Guðnadóttir
Hildur Guðnadóttir
Hildur Ingveldardóttir Guðnadóttir is a classically trained Icelandic Cellist who has played and recorded with the bands Pan Sonic, Throbbing Gristle and Múm, as well as her solo project Lost in Hildurness...
. In early 2006, Kristín also left the band, although it was not officially announced until November 23 of that year.
Despite the departure of some of its members múm has remained together as a collective of musicians. Their fourth album, recorded during 2006, was released on 24 September 2007, entitled Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy
Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy
Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy is an album by the Icelandic group múm. It was released on the Fat Cat label on 24 September 2007.The album marks a shift from the group's original style as it uses more live instruments than electronics, and there is a different vocal style, including male vocals...
.
múm toured the East Coast of the US with German musician Volker "Hauschka" Bertelmann
Hauschka
Hauschka is the alias of Düsseldorf-based pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann.- Background :Bertelmann's work is based upon an exploration of the possibilities of the prepared piano - a playfully disruptive intervention into the preconceived idea of the piano as a pure-toned, perfected...
In November 2007,.
They returned in Spring 2008 with the same set list. Both tours included songs from the album, Go, Go Smear the Poison Ivy.
On 27 August 2008, they announced on their official website that "Múm is quietly but surely [working on] their new album. No release date has been etched in stone, but every day will bring it closer." múm also released several pictures of themselves during the recording process on their My Space page.
During a 22 May 2009 concert in Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, Spain, múm played songs from their newest album Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know
Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know
Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know is the fifth full-length studio album by Icelandic group múm, released in August 2009.The album was first made available to purchase for download on 17 August 2009, through the web site Gogoyoko, with 10 percent of the proceeds being donated to the...
. It was released as a download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
through Gogoyoko
Gogoyoko
gogoyoko.com is an online music store and social networking music website where artists can sell directly to their fans. The site offers free streaming of all tracks, which is subsidized with advertisements in the music store. The focus of the site is on independent music both from independent...
on 17 August 2009, and on CD on 24 August 2009.
Múm will launch in December 2011 an EP with traditional Icelandic Christmas songs. There are two songs plus one extra track.
Albums
- Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OKYesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OKYesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK is the debut album by experimental Icelandic musical group múm, originally released on TMT on 11 March 2000, and then on 2 April 2001 in the United Kingdom. In 2005 the album was performed live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't...
(TMTTMTTMT may refer to:* Tandem mass tag, a label used for quantitative mass spectrometry–based proteomics* Tarsometatarsal articulations* Technology, Media, Telecommunications – an investment sector, e.g., late-1990s TMT bubble...
, 2000; reissue Morr MusicMorr MusicMorr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
, 2005) - Finally We Are No OneFinally We Are No One-Personnel:*Samuli Kosminen — drums and percussion on multiple tracks.*Orri - organ crackles.*Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson – trumpet.*Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir, Ingrid Karlsdóttir, Anna Hugadóttir – violins and violas on tracks 9....
(Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2002) - Loksins erum við enginLoksins erum við enginLoksins erum við engin is an album released by the Icelandic group múm in May 2002 by Smekkleysa. It is the limited Icelandic version of Finally We Are No One.-Track listing:# "Svefn/sund" – 0:50# "Grasi vaxin göng" – 4:51...
(Smekkleysa RecordsBad Taste (record label)Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
, 2002) — the IcelandicIcelandic languageIcelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
version of "Finally We Are No OneFinally We Are No One-Personnel:*Samuli Kosminen — drums and percussion on multiple tracks.*Orri - organ crackles.*Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson – trumpet.*Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir, Ingrid Karlsdóttir, Anna Hugadóttir – violins and violas on tracks 9....
" - Summer Make GoodSummer Make GoodSummer Make Good is an album by the Icelandic group múm. It was released on the Fat Cat label in 2004.-Track listing:# "Hú Hviss - A Ship" – 1:27# "Weeping Rock, Rock" – 6:18# "Nightly Cares" – 4:58# "The Ghosts You Draw on My Back" – 4:14...
(Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2004) - Go Go Smear the Poison IvyGo Go Smear the Poison IvyGo Go Smear the Poison Ivy is an album by the Icelandic group múm. It was released on the Fat Cat label on 24 September 2007.The album marks a shift from the group's original style as it uses more live instruments than electronics, and there is a different vocal style, including male vocals...
(Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2007) - Sing Along to Songs You Don't KnowSing Along to Songs You Don't KnowSing Along to Songs You Don't Know is the fifth full-length studio album by Icelandic group múm, released in August 2009.The album was first made available to purchase for download on 17 August 2009, through the web site Gogoyoko, with 10 percent of the proceeds being donated to the...
(Morr MusicMorr MusicMorr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
, 2009)
Compilations
- Blái HnötturinnBlái HnötturinnBlái hnötturinn is an album by the Icelandic group múm. It is a soundtrack composed for the children's play Blái hnötturinn by Andri Snær Magnason...
(2001) — Soundtrack - Motorlab #2 (2001) — 3 tracks contributed to compilation album by Kitchen MotorsKitchen MotorsKitchen Motors is an Iceland based think tank, record label and an art collective specializing in instigating collaborations and putting on concerts, exhibitions, performances, chamber operas, producing films, books and radio shows....
- Please Smile My Noise BleedPlease Smile My Noise BleedPlease Smile My Noise Bleed is an album by the Icelandic group múm. It was released on the Morr Music label in 2001.-Track listing:# "On the Old Mountain Radio" – 5:11# "Please Sing My Spring Reverb" – 5:20...
(Morr MusicMorr MusicMorr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
, 2001) — 3 New Tracks + Remixes - Remixed (TMTTMTTMT may refer to:* Tandem mass tag, a label used for quantitative mass spectrometry–based proteomics* Tarsometatarsal articulations* Technology, Media, Telecommunications – an investment sector, e.g., late-1990s TMT bubble...
, 2001) — Versions of Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is Ok - Fálkar (Smekkleysa RecordsBad Taste (record label)Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
, 2002) — contributed "Grasi Vaxin Göng" - Wicker Park (soundtrack)Wicker Park (Soundtrack)Wicker Park is the accompanying soundtrack to the 2004 film of the same name. The soundtrack is composed entirely of songs from popular rock bands, with occasional covers like Coldplay's The Scientist...
(Lakeshore RecordsLakeshore RecordsLakeshore Records is the independent music division of Lakeshore Entertainment . They started out as WILL Records.Will Records were started by Skip Williamson in the early 90s...
, 2004) — contributed "We Have a Map of the Piano" - Screaming MasterpieceScreaming MasterpieceScreaming Masterpiece is a 2005 documentary film directed and written by Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon about the music scene in Iceland...
(2005) — Appeared in the documentary with the video for "Green Grass of TunnelGreen Grass of Tunnel"Green Grass of Tunnel" is a song by experimental Icelandic musical group múm, released prior to their 2002 album Finally We Are No One as a single. The song was covered by British Sea Power on their 2005 single It Ended on an Oily Stage...
" and contributed the same song to the soundtrack. - Friends of the Random Summer (2005) — 3 CD, Unofficial Release.
- Kitchen Motors Family Album/Fjölskyldualbúm TilraunaeldhússinsKitchen Motors Family Album/Fjölskyldualbúm TilraunaeldhússinsKitchen Motors Family Album a compilation album released in 2006. It came into being two years after the celebration of Kitchen Motors' 5 year anniversary at May 1st 2004. The album features mostly previously unreleased songs by the artists and bands who have worked with Kitchen Motors since it...
(Spring 2006) — contributed "Asleep in a Hiding Place"
EPs
- The Ballað of the Broken Birdie Records (TMTTMTTMT may refer to:* Tandem mass tag, a label used for quantitative mass spectrometry–based proteomics* Tarsometatarsal articulations* Technology, Media, Telecommunications – an investment sector, e.g., late-1990s TMT bubble...
, 2000) - Dusk LogDusk LogDusk Log is an EP from the album Summer Make Good that was released by múm in 2004.-Track listing:# "Kostrzyn" — 5:17# "This Nothing Blowing in the Faraway" — 4:07# "Will the Summer Make Good for All of Our Sins?" — 4:06# "Boots of Fog" — 4:34...
(Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2004) - The Peel SessionThe Peel Session (Múm EP)The Peel Session is an EP by Icelandic band múm that was released in 2006. The songs were recorded at Maida Vale Studios for the band's Peel Session, first broadcast on 3 October 2002.-Track listing:# "Scratched Bicycle/Smell Memory" — 5:25...
(Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2006) (Maida Vale 4 Studio 2002)
Singles
- "Green Grass of TunnelGreen Grass of Tunnel"Green Grass of Tunnel" is a song by experimental Icelandic musical group múm, released prior to their 2002 album Finally We Are No One as a single. The song was covered by British Sea Power on their 2005 single It Ended on an Oily Stage...
" (Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2002) - "Nightly Cares" (Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2004) - "They Made Frogs Smoke 'til They ExplodedThey Made Frogs Smoke 'til They Exploded"They Made Frogs Smoke 'til They Exploded" is a single from the album Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy that was released by múm in 2007. The song The Amateur Show is also available as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album.-Track listing:...
" (Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2007) - "Marmalade FiresMarmalade Fires"Marmalade Fires" is the second single from the album Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy released by múm in December 2007. The second song of the single Rhuubarbidoo appears as Rhubarbidoo on the original album.-Track listing:# "Marmalade Fires" — 5:03...
" (Fat Cat RecordsFat Cat RecordsFat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, 2007) - "Prophecies and Reversed Memories" (Morr MusicMorr MusicMorr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
,2009)