Mum - Smilewood

I first saw Icelandic electro experimentalists Múm play in Vicar Street back in ‘04, when their arty sound collages succeeded in entrancing the audience, although they were somewhat overshadowed by the support act, a group no-one had really heard of called Animal Collective. In the time since, the Collective have moved into the vanguard of contemporary art-rock acts, and for a brief time the band’s Avery Tare and ex-Mum member Kristin Anna Valtysdottir were an item, making them the avant-electro Posh and Becks.
These days, Múm are a well-regarded outfit who specialise in atmospheric post-rock soundscapes, though their records perhaps lack the spark that would make them truly brilliant, as opposed to merely agreeable. Smilewound is basically more of the same; cerebral avant electro, expertly executed, though perhaps lacking a real sense of flair. Tracks such as ‘Toothwheel’, ‘Underwater Snow’ and ‘Eternity Is The Wait Between Breaths’ are perfectly serviceable chamber pieces, which tastefully utilise electro sounds, melancholic piano and glitchy beats, but which don’t really stir the emotions.
Occasionally, Mum do vary the template, kicking into an 8-bit dance-pop groove on ‘Candlestick’ and indulging in some Radiohead-style art-rock action on ‘One Smile’. Again, the band handle these shifts in gear with considerable style, but the tunes don’t really get you leaping out of your seat with excitement. If Mogwai are the Man Utd of the post-rock world then Múm are Arsenal – perennially impressive if ultimately trophyless.

Key Track: 'Underwater Suns'