Originally a duo, the band has expanded and contracted in the 12 years of being and has counted 15 - 20 people along the way.
The band was formed in 1997 by original members Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, their first release was a split 10" with the girl-band Spúnk and saw light in the summer of '98. They were joined a year later by twin sisters Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir and released two albums as quartet. Following a number of collaborative projects, the group’s celebrated debut album Yesterday was dramatic - today is OK (reissued by Morr Music in October 2005) gained a wealth of glowing press and widespread praise. A remix project, Please Smile My Noise Bleed, also released on the Morr Music label in November 2001.
In 2002, after the release of Finally We Are No One and the extensive first world tour, Gyða left the band to return to her studies in Reykjavík. Shortly after, the third sister Ásthildur Valtýsdóttir joined for singing duties temporarily and Serena Tideman replaced Gyða on cello, for a single European tour. The band's third album, Summer Make Good, a darker and foggier, nautically themed work was released in May 2004, flanked by two singles, Nightly Cares and Dusk Log. By then the ensemble had evolved to include Eiríkur Ólafsson and Hildur Guðnadóttir (who had guest appearances on múm recordings from the beginning) and Ólöf Arnalds. In early 2006, Kristín also left the band after releasing and heavily touring the album Summer Make Good.
The start of 2006 saw the band's creativity start to blossom once again, starting with two remixes Goldfrapp of the tracks ‘Number 1’ and ‘You Never Know’. They followed this with two legendary DJ sets at the FatCat Festival in Belgium in February and SXSW in Austin Texas 2007. With a combination of decks, effects, laptops, toy microphones, old cassette player recordings and vocals, coupled with their own recorded material, strange electronic covers by friends, gypsy folk music and general craziness on stage. They were also subsequently invited DJ at Summer Sonic Festival in Japan as well as be headline act as DJ's in Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank tent at Bestival on the Isle of Wight. In september 2007 múm released Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy which turned out to be the bands last release for the Fatcat Records.
múm has always worked on projects which could be classed as unusual for a pop band or a pop collective. Among their extra curricular activity is their own soundtrack for the classic Sergei Eisenstein film, 'Battleship Potemkin', live performances of which have taken place in Hafnafjordur Iceland, Brooklyn Lyceum New York, and at the distinguished Gijon Film Festival Spain. múm have also composed for theater, most notably two radio theater plays, 'Svefnhjólið' (Sleeping Wheel) by Gyrdir Eliasson which won the Nordic Radio-theater prize and in 2008 Augu þín sáu mig (Your eyes saw me) by poet Sjón (which múm also worked with in 1999 on the operetta Kisa (cat). In 2005 they were invited to Amsterdam by the Holland Festival to collaborate with the National Dutch Chamber Orchestra to create a performance piece based around various compositions of the late avant-garde composer Iannis Xenakis for one of the centre piece shows at the festival.
múm released their fifth studio album, Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know, in August 2009. The collective now consists of founding members Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason and for touring and recording, this line-up is expanded to include their friends Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson (trumpet / piano/ keyboards), Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello / vocals), Sigurlaug Gísladóttir (Vocals / ukulele/ various), Róbert Reynisson (guitars/ukulele's) and the Finnish Samuli Kosminen (drums / percussion). The musical group sometimes extends to Ólöf Arnalds, Högni Egilsson, Ólafur Björn Ólafsson and Guðbjörg Hlín Guðmundsdóttir as well as a never ending family of friends and musicians who may join at the drop of a hat.
Official website: http://www.mum.is
Guilty Rocks
múm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clear lights on dirty bulbs, dirty bulbs
Your pants fall to the ground
They're filled with guilty rocks, guilty rocks
Your pants fall to the ground
They're filled with guilty rocks, guilty rocks
Your glancing cracks your skin
Clear lights on dirty bulbs, dirty bulbs
Your pants fall to the ground
They're filled with guilty rocks, guilty rocks
The lyrics of Múm’s song “Guilty Rocks” carry an eerie and mysterious undertone. The lines “Your glancing cracks your skin/Clear lights on dirty bulbs, dirty bulbs” could be interpreted as the vulnerability of the human skin, and how even a mere glance can evoke a sense of discomfort in a person. The image of clear lights on dirty bulbs indicates the contrast between purity and impurities. This contrast could represent the human psyche, which could be both pure and impure.
The lines “Your pants fall to the ground/They're filled with guilty rocks, guilty rocks” evoke a sense of guilt and a burden that one cannot seem to escape. The imagery of pants filled with guilty rocks could represent the heavy weight of someone’s past transgressions or the consequences of their actions. The repeated line “Your glancing cracks your skin” emphasizes the idea that a mere glance from someone could break someone apart, leading them to carry this heavy burden throughout their life.
Overall, the lyrics of “Guilty Rocks” portray a complicated and layered narrative that could convey different meanings based on the listener's interpretation. The subtle and evocative use of imagery and phrases paint a vivid picture, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Your glancing cracks your skin
Your fleeting, unintentional looks are causing wounds and pain
Clear lights on dirty bulbs, dirty bulbs
What appears clear and bright on the surface is actually surrounded by filth and imperfections
Your pants fall to the ground
You are exposed, vulnerable, and have nothing to hide behind
They're filled with guilty rocks, guilty rocks
You carry the weight of your wrongdoings with you and cannot escape their burden
Your pants fall to the ground
You are exposed, vulnerable, and have nothing to hide behind
They're filled with guilty rocks, guilty rocks
You carry the weight of your wrongdoings with you and cannot escape their burden
Your glancing cracks your skin
Your fleeting, unintentional looks are causing wounds and pain
Clear lights on dirty bulbs, dirty bulbs
What appears clear and bright on the surface is actually surrounded by filth and imperfections
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUNNAR OERN TYNES, OERVAR THOREYJARSON SMARASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Le Hibou
Excellent music. Great subtle vocals. Múm.
mist
This sounds absolutely incredible at a slowed speed.
nhandu
shivers. down my back. thank you mum.
tsoplika
You nailed it there!
usedfuzzbox
Some genius and really spot on comments below!
marsdue
This is the song that reminds me of Nighmare Before Christmas
Breezy Hann
Song reminds me of cooking an edible masterpiece made with chocolate and raspberries ...
Lilitesen
like soundtrack for detective movie from 70ies, but updated :) i see a guy in raincoat, maybe young Donald Sutherland, driving car in the rain, following somebody... Great....just great! wish somebody would translate lyrics...
Rudy Bravo
Something about this song makes me feel nervous...as if someone is just behind me....?...watching me...?..
charlie z
from last.fm shoutbox: "I want to rob houses at Christmas to this music."