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
Land Between Solar Systems
múm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coming through the grass,
Deeper it goes, through the wall it goes
Singing me a song, sing me to sleep
There's that noise again,
Coming through the grass,
Louder it goes
There's that place again
There behind the hills
The lyrics to múm's song "Land Between Solar Systems" speak of a haunting and unsettling fear that seems to come from nature itself. The repeated phrase "There's that fear again" creates a sense of unease and anticipation, as if something ominous is lurking just beyond our perception. The use of natural imagery such as grass and hills further reinforces this idea as if whatever is causing this fear is deeply rooted in the environment around us. The song also references being sung to sleep, which creates a paradoxical effect of a lullaby causing fear rather than comfort.
It's unclear what the specific meaning behind the lyrics is, but it could be interpreted as a commentary on the inherent fear and unknown that comes with living in an unpredictable and uncontrollable world. The cyclical nature of the verses hints at the idea of this fear being a constant presence in our lives. The song's use of minimalist instrumentation and ethereal vocals only add to the sense of unease, creating an overall haunting and mysterious atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
There's that fear again,
Once again, the feeling of anxiety and apprehension resurfaces within me.
Coming through the grass,
It begins as a faint sensation, but slowly intensifies and consumes me like dense foliage.
Deeper it goes, through the wall it goes
This fear isn't superficial; it has roots that dig deep and penetrate every surface, no matter how impenetrable it might seem.
Singing me a song, sing me to sleep
Despite its overwhelming presence, this fear oddly has a lulling, hypnotic effect that soothes me into slumber, like a melody that carries me away from the harsh reality.
There's that noise again,
A discomforting sound, that I've heard before, has once again made its way to my ears.
Coming through the grass,
It's faint at first, but it grows louder as it proceeds, as if it's trying to break through an obstruction and reach me at all costs.
Louder it goes
The noise becomes more intense and unbearable, as if it's trying to drown me in its own intensity.
Singing me to sleep.
Despite the disturbance it causes, the noise has a strange, hypnotic effect, that ultimately puts me into a deep slumber.
There's that place again
I've come across this place before in my journey, and it feels eerie and unsettling, like a place I'm not supposed to be.
There behind the hills
It's hidden from plain sight, concealed by hills that make it difficult to approach or escape from.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
prickly ashes
there's that fear again,
coming through the grass,
deeper it goes, through the wall it goes
singing me a song, sing me to sleep..
there's that noise again,
coming through the grass,
louder it goes
singing me to sleep.
there's that place again
there behind the hills..
skiba801
Múm, Sigur Rós as well as Björk have changed my life. I can honestly say that they inspired me to go to Iceland and settle down there for the rest of my life.
Tomek K
Man, I know you might be already dead as 9 years has passed since you put this comment but I just want to say THANK YOU for point Sigur Rós out in you comment. I didn't knew them and I just have checked it out... absolutely awesome, no words to describe them, Thank You man. I really appreciate it.
Merely Meas
This song is so underrated it's untrue, I'm completely sober and the music alone takes me to another plane of existence, It truly shows you a land between solar systems.
Ant
Laying down on a giant pillows which were spread across the stage and viewing this song live was the most hypnotizing and exhilarating experiences of my life. Timeless music from such a talented band. 🌹❤️
Rigo Rob
First time I heard this song I was deep in a melancholy state riding my bike in a nature trail... I had a joint rolled. I went off the trail and sat on a cliff overlooking the man made lake ahead of me... I also remember feeking incredibly high thnking I had sparked my joint and started smoking it, then I realized I had not even lit it, I was in such a trance that I felt high, not a "im fucked up bro" high ... a fucking intensely soulful high. this song was so helpful... I love the universe
Matheus Steffen
Eu já estava sensibilizado com um livro que tava lendo, que me deixou flutuando em mim mesmo, e escutando essa música fui completamente arrebatado! O momento em que ficamos preparados e presentes para uma música é magico. Uma das belezas da vida.
Double F
I want to go to this land, hope I can see you there again mom, wait for me, I miss you deeply.
Meanwhile I’ll be going everyday listening to this song and flying away in my mind to this amazing place.
probityk
Has anyone else cried hysterically to this song, as well as laugh and smile profusely in bliss? This song hits the tipping point to my most extreme emotions. Love.
Surface_Glow
DeadRoses88 YouTube comments are better than anything on tv right now.
Wagner
probityk This happened to me.
This song makes me think about all the difficulties and pain that I've lived, and if, in the end, it really will be worth it...