It's been over 3 years since múm released their last album, Summer Make Good, but luckily there’s only one more week to wait before the launch of their new album Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy. The much anticipated album has been preceded by the recent release of the single They Made Frogs Smoke 'Til They Exploded, a chirpy song about animal cruelty, and a free mp3 download of Dancing Behind My Eyelids which was made available to fans that had subscribed to the band’s mailing list. Take a listen below:
For those of you who don’t know them, múm is an experimental Icelandic band. Don't let the word 'experimental' put you off. Their music, which we happen to love but find difficult to describe, is characterized by soft vocals, electronic beats/effects and a wide variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.
When the band was first formed in 1997, its original members were Gunnar Örn Tynes, Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, and twin sisters Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir. Sadly, with the departure of Gyða (in 2002) and Kristín (in 2006), the core of múm was down to the duo of Gunnar and Örvar at the start of the creative process for their latest album but happily by the end the band was larger than ever with a total of seven people.
In addition to Gunnar and Örvar, múm now includes Samuli Kosminen (who is also a collaborator with accordionist Kimmo and the Kronos Quartet), Ólöf Arnalds (who has recently released her debut solo album við x%x% við), Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson (who is a part of various other music projects, touring in the brass section of Sigur Rós and as a recording and touring member of Benni Hemm Hemm), Hildur Guðnadóttir (who has also recently released her first cello album Mount. A and is part of Angel and Pan Sonic) and Sigurlaug Gísladóttir or mr.Silla (who is the most recent addition to the band).
As for the name of the band (which is pronounced moom) - according to founding member Kristín Valtýsdóttir, the band's name was not intended to mean anything but in an early interview the name was explained as a picture. Apparently the written letters "múm" looked like two elephants, nodding their trunks.
The good news for fans (like us) is that múm will be making a lengthy European tour in November and December to promote their new album. The tour will begin once Mum have completed their North American and Canadian dates in October/early November and will take place in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, Spain and Italy amongst other places.
Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy is released by FatCat on September 24th (25th in the USA). While you’re waiting, take a listen to Dancing Behind My Eyelids by múm.
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