múm

múm
múm performing at the Aldrei fór ég suður festival in Ísafjörður, 2009
Background information
Origin	Iceland
Genres	Electronic, folktronica, glitch, experimental
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Fat Cat
Associated acts	FM Belfast
Members
Gunnar Örn Tynes Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason Ólöf Arnalds Eiríkur Orri Olafsson Hildur Guðnadóttir Sigurlaug Gisladottir Samuli Kosminen Róbert Sturla Reynisson
Past members
Gyða Valtýsdóttir Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir

múm (Icelandic pronunciation: [muːm]) are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch 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 Smárason, 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 launched in December 2011 an EP called Gleðileg Jól (Merry Christmas in Icelandic) with traditional Icelandic Christmas songs. There are two songs plus one extra track.

Discography

Albums

• Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OK (TMT, 2000; reissue Morr Music, 2005)
• Finally We Are No One (Fat Cat Records, 2002)
• Loksins erum við engin (Smekkleysa Records, 2002) — the Icelandic version of "Finally We Are No One"
• Summer Make Good (Fat Cat Records, 2004)
• Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy (Fat Cat Records, 2007)
• Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know (Morr Music, 2009)

Compilations

• Blái Hnötturinn (2001) — Soundtrack
• Motorlab #2 (2001) — 3 tracks contributed to compilation album by Kitchen Motors
• Please Smile My Noise Bleed (Morr Music, 2001) — 3 New Tracks + Remixes
• Remixed (TMT, 2001) — Versions of Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is Ok
• Fálkar (Smekkleysa Records, 2002) — contributed "Grasi Vaxin Göng"
• Wicker Park (soundtrack) (Lakeshore Records, 2004) — contributed "We Have a Map of the Piano"
• Screaming Masterpiece (2005) — Appeared in the documentary with the video for "Green Grass of Tunnel" and contributed the same song to the soundtrack.
• Friends of the Random Summer (2005) — 3 CD, Unofficial Release.
• Kitchen Motors Family Album/Fjölskyldualbúm Tilraunaeldhússins (Spring 2006) — contributed "Asleep in a Hiding Place"

EPs

• The Ballað of the Broken Birdie Records (TMT, 2000)
• Dusk Log (Fat Cat Records, 2004)
• The Peel Session (Fat Cat Records, 2006) (Maida Vale 4 Studio 2002)
• Gleðileg Jól (A Number Of Small Things, 2011)

Singles

• "Green Grass of Tunnel" (Fat Cat Records, 2002)
• "Nightly Cares" (Fat Cat Records, 2004)
• "They Made Frogs Smoke 'til They Exploded" (Fat Cat Records, 2007)
• "Marmalade Fires" (Fat Cat Records, 2007)
• "Prophecies and Reversed Memories" (Morr Music, 2009)

External links

• Official website
• Fansite & archive
• múm at FatCat Records
• Interview on BYT
• múm and Sing Fang Bous performing 'Erupting Light' on MPLS.TV