Drum Media July 2002

Review by Paris Pompor.



Finally we are no one (FatCat/Inertia)

Sun-rays & warmth slowly flicker into view with innocent tinklings & chimes as the big candy coloured door is opened on this newie for the fearless Fat Cat label, illustrating the UK imprint's happiness to embrace adventurous sounds whilst also reinforcing the fantasy-quirkiness I've come to associate with Iceland, from where Múm hails. In fact rummaging thru this album is akin to the childish marvel of discovering the incandescent plastic gems in a jewellery box guarded by a whirling ballerina. Yes the spinning top sounds, merry-go-round melodian puffing, assorted tinkering FX & sticky-sweet female pixie vocals give weight to the cutsie analogy, but there's also certain wonder to Múm's compositions, treatments & the entwined melodic-moods of fascination & melancholy. Alongside the delicate, yet verging on 'glitch' electronics & enigmatic programming (including work by Björk's programmer on Vespertine, Valgeir Sigurdsson) are the plucked, felt-tipped hammering & caressed sounds of guitars, cellos glockenspiels & accordions from the ecentric quartet's songwriting toybox. Comparisons will be made to Björk, but they're flimsy at best, with Múm's hold on pop being much more tenuous & their use of vocals & emotion being far more subtle & less dramatic. As for a fave pick, it has to be the easily digestible & more obviously catchy Don't Be Afraid, You Have Just Got Your Eyes Closed, which also takes out the best song title for me so far this year. Connect: www.fat-cat.co.uk



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