History Of Silence [LP]

Mum - History Of Silence [LP]

LP version. History of Silence is the first full body of work by Icelandic collective mum since 2013's Smilewound (MORR 124CD) and their seventh studio album to date -- recorded, deconstructed, put back together again, refined and finished over the course of two years. Vibrantly oscillating around a carefully curated palette of electronic and analogue sounds, the eight new tracks reflect the group's continuous strive to explore sonic spaces through subtle yet gripping songwriting. For a long time now, mum have been exploring the idea of distance in their music. Founded in Iceland in the late 1990s, the members soon began embarking on journeys across the world. Settling in, moving on, catching up: The concept of distance soon became an integral part of the collective's process. History of Silence leans into this idea, with space and time becoming indispensable pillars of the arrangements. While being coherent and structured, they echo their origins from different seasons, cities, and spaces -- neatly stitched together with unparalleled craftsmanship. On History of Silence time manifests in unexpected, liberating, and mesmerizing ways. It does not move reliably forward; it drifts, takes twists and turns, even disappears completely. Electronic textures blur into acoustic sounds, voices flicker and dissolve, melodies stumble and repeat. The arrangements often feel like they're wandering, gently resisting direction. Work on History of Silence began at Sudestudio in southern Italy. Additional recordings were made in Reykjavik, Berlin, Athens, Helsinki, New York, and Prague. The strings were recorded by Sinfonia Nord at the Hof concert hall, Akureyri, arranged and conducted by Ingi Garoar Erlendsson, who has worked with the band for many years. The orchestral elements don't dominate the record -- instead, they surface gently, adding depth and resonance to the songs without disturbing the songs' fragility. Contrary to what the album title suggests, History of Silence is a collection of bold and colorful songs, no matter how muted they might sound at times. They tickle like a feather drifting through the wind, ending up in unexpected places, stimulating long-forgotten thoughts and feelings, intimate moments of introspection. The songs move through the echoes those moments leave behind: the emotional traces of things unsaid, the weight of stillness. Offering closeness by means of distance and much-needed support. Bless. 
01. Miss You Dance (5:03)_x000D_
02. Kill the Light (4:39)_x000D_
03. Mild at Heart (4:14)_x000D_
04. Avignon (3:10)_x000D_
05. Only Songbirds Have a Sweet Tooth (4:05)_x000D_
06. Our Love is Distorting (4:49)_x000D_
07. A Dry Heart Needs no Winding (3:38)_x000D_
08. I Like to Shake (4:20)