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múm

Real Name:
Gunnar Örn Tynes, Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason
Profile:
Gunni started his career by doing old-school hardcore music (some connoisseurs say that these tunes are pure dance floor anthems) on an Amiga. Maybe these tracks will be released one day, but just maybe.

Kristín and Gyða started to play piano and cello at a tender age, and when both were 9 years old, they decided to do a musical about garbage children with their classmates at music school. The boys spotted the girls playing at a community centre, as part of a dodgy band doing Pixies cover versions, both girls were then 15 years old.

Örvar began to do music when his parents bought their first computer. He needed a tune for a game he was programming on BASIC. Since then his love for bleeps as never diminished.

After Örvar found a tape of Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works on the floor at school, he had to re-think the boundaries of composition. "It changed my life," he says with tongue firmly in cheek. Up until then, Örvar had been playing in a rock band with fellow electronica convert Gunnar Tynes. Changing tack they joined up with classically trained twin sisters Kristín Anna and Gyða , and all four of them gathered around a computer in a room full of strange old instruments to start experimenting. múm was born. "We didn't know what múm meant in English when we chose the name," admits the very soft spoken Kristín. "It just sounds nice: moom..mooom, like the Moomins, you know. I don't think we would have chosen it if we had known what it meant." They were given a chance by Reykjavik's Thule Records to go into the studio and put together their extraordinary album, "Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK". Sampling extensively from their environment - using clanking cutlery or closing doors as percussion - múm have since been asked for remixes by Emiliana Torrini and Sigur Rós, amongst others.

"Finally We Are No One" took them about two years, on and off, to write, produce and record. Engineer Valgeir Sigurdsson who worked on Björk's "Vespertine" also worked on the LP. A large chunk of the record was made when the band spent a few months in a lighthouse on the North-West coast of Iceland - an apparently desolate but beautiful place. They liked it there. "I really connected with the place," says Gunni. "We didn't have television. We didn't have a phone. We didn't have any people. If we wanted to buy something we had to go get to a small town, we had to get there by boat. It felt great. I thought. This is how we are supposed to live." So what are múm like? Well, there's four of them, they're all early to mid-twenties, they finish each other's sentences and they're kind of happy right now. Being in a band suits them and they like it. "It's really nice," says Gunni. "and it's something you could easily combine with a lot of other interests - some work or some other art form." They also look forward to touring. "It's fun," says Örvar, "to have the opportunity to travel around and meet different people and play in different places. It's good fun."

Gyða Valtýsdóttir left múm in late 2002 to pursue her studies at the Academy of Arts in Iceland followed by the departure of her twin Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir who left múm in January of 2006 to pursue a solo career under the name Kria Brekkan.

Currently múm are founding members Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason and for touring and recording, this line-up is expanded to include their friends Ólöf Arnalds (violin / viola / guitar / vocals), Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson (trumpet / pianette / moog / whistling), Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello / vocals), Mr. Silla (Vocals / various) and Finlander, Samuli Kosminen (drums / percussion).

For 2009 album, besides Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, múm consists of Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson (trumpet / piano / keyboards / string arrangements), Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello / vocals), Sigurlaug Gísladóttir (Vocals / ukulele / various), Róbert Sturla Reynisson (guitars / ukuleles) and Finlander, Samuli Kosminen (drums / percussion).
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Variations:
All | múm | Mum
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Discography

Releases:
Asnakjalkar I Apabuningum (CD)   Dreifing Japis 1999
Flugmaður (CD)   Islensk Talsetning 1999
Náttúruóperan (CD)   Leikfélag MH 1999
The Ballað Of The Broken Birdie Records (12")   TMT Entertainment 1999
Blái Hnötturinn (CDr)   Not On Label 2001
Please Smile My Noise Bleed (MiniAlbum, EP) (3 versions)   Morr Music 2001
Remixed (Album) (2 versions)   TMT Entertainment 2001
Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK (Album) (7 versions)   TMT Entertainment ... 2001
Finally We Are No One (Album) (6 versions)   FatCat Records ... 2002
Green Grass Of Tunnel (Maxi) (3 versions)   FatCat Records 2002
Dreams Never Die (Maxi) (3 versions)   FatCat Records 2004
Dusk Log (EP, Maxi) (3 versions)   FatCat Records 2004
Nightly Cares (Maxi) (3 versions)   FatCat Records 2004
Summer Make Good (Album) (5 versions)   FatCat Records ... 2004
The Peel Session (EP) (3 versions)   FatCat Records 2006
Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy (Album) (7 versions)   FatCat Records ... 2007
Marmalade Fires (Single) (2 versions)   FatCat Records 2007
They Made Frogs Smoke 'til They Exploded (Single) (3 versions)   FatCat Records ... 2007
Prophecies And Reversed Memories (10", Single)   Morr Music, Euphono Records 2009
Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know (Album) (2 versions)   Morr Music 2009
Remixes:
Von Brigði (CD, Album) Syndir Guðs (Endurunn... Smekkleysa 1998
E2 (7") To Be Free FatCat Records, One Little Indian 2000
IMpossible (12") IMpossible (Múm Remix) Monika Enterprise 2001
So Soon (12", EP) Light Of India (Múm R... Planet Mu 2001
42 More Things To Do In Zero Gravity Part 1 (2xCD, Comp) Nitro (Múm Remix) Uni:form Recordings 2002
Loud New Shit (CD, Album) Resistance Days (Múm ... Tigerbeat6 2003
Gooom Tracks Vol. 2 (CD) Violet Tree (Violent T... Gooom 2004
Heartstopper (CD, Maxi) Heartstopper (Stop Hea... Rough Trade (UK) 2005
Fly Me Away (Maxi) (2 versions) You Never Know (múm R... Mute Records Ltd. ... 2006
Remixes (CDr, Promo) You Never Know (Múm R... Warner / Chappell 2006
Ride A White Horse (Mixes) (CDr, Promo) Number 1 (múm Remix) Virgin 2006
We Are Glitter (Album, Comp) (2 versions) You Never Know (múm R... Mute ... 2006
[Lazy Hours] 02 (2xCD, Dig) Number 1 (Mum Remix) Pomaton EMI 2006
Production:
Blue Skied An' Clear (2xCD) Machine Gun Morr Music 2002
Appears On:
Motorlab #2 (CD)   Smekkleysa, Kitchen Motors 2000
Documenta (3xLP, Comp) The Ballad Of Broken B... Agenda 2002
Documenta.II (CD, Comp) Spilar La La La Agenda 2002
All Areas Volume 49 (CD, Comp) Nightly Cares Visions Magazine 2004
Fly Me Away (CD, Maxi, Ltd, CD2) You Never Know (Múm R... Mute Records Ltd., Mute Records Ltd. 2006
Ride A White Horse (Maxi, Single) (2 versions) Number 1 (múm Remix) Mute Records Ltd. 2006
Tracks Appear On:
Motorlab #2 (CD) Overture, She Introduc... Smekkleysa, Kitchen Motors 2000
VPRO De Avonden XMAS 2000 (CDr, Comp) Nottin Var Svo Agaetein VPRO 2000
Ambient Soho Vol.III (2xCD, Comp) The Ballað Of The Bro... Millennium Records 2001
Domino 2001 (CD) Asleep On A Train Ancienne Belgique 2001
Nart Nibbles (2xCD, Comp, RE) Þurrki Þurrk Kitchen Motors 2001
Vertical Forms (2 versions) Hufeland Vertical Form 2001
* Seasonal Greetings (Comp) (2 versions) Nóttin Var Svo Ágæt... Mobilé 2002
42 More Things To Do In Zero Gravity Part 1 (2xCD, Comp) Smell Memory (Trabant ... Uni:form Recordings 2002
Asthmatic Worm (Comp) (2 versions) I'm 9 Today Mobilé 2002
Blue Skied An' Clear (2 versions) Machine Gun Morr Music 2002
Colors Music: Nordic (Comp) (2 versions) Green Grass Of Tunnel Irma 2002
Documenta (Comp) (2 versions) The Ballad Of Broken B... Agenda 2002
Documenta II (Comp) (2 versions) Spilar La La La Agenda 2002
I Like B-Sides (CDr) Please Sing My Spring ... Anti-Party Music 2002
Indietronica Vol. 1 (CD) Finally We Are No One SonarMusic 2002
Mai 2002 (CD) Green Grass Of Tunnel Les Inrockuptibles 2002
Morr Music - A Letter To Rosario (CD) On The Old Mountain Radio Sinedín Music 2002
SPEX CD #19 (CD) Don't be Afraid, You H... Spex Magazine 2002
Satisfaction Guaranteed (2xCD, Promo) Green Grass Of Tunnel PIAS France 2002
Small Technology (CD) Green Grass Of Tunnel Sinedín Music 2002
The Wire Tapper 9 (2xCD) We Have A Map Of The P... Wire Magazine 2002
Branches And Routes - A FatCat Records Compilation (2 versions) Green Grass Of Tunnel FatCat Records 2003
Flowmotion - Visual Pleasure Volume 2.0 (2xCD, Comp) The Ballad Of The Brok... Elektrolux 2003
Flowmotion - Visual Pleasure Volume 2.0 (DVD) The Ballad Of The Brok... General Electronic Music 2003
Klub Sputnik - The Ultimately Complete Compilation 2001-2003 (2xCD + Box) Thurrki Thurrk Oranssi Ry 2003
The Catalogue Of Télépopmusik (CD) Green Grass of Tunnel Catalogue 2003
The Cornerstone Player 054 (CD + CD, Mixed + DVD + , Comp, Promo) Nightly Cares Cornerstone Promotion 2003
VIRTU™ See Level (2xCD) Green Grass Of Tunnel Virtu 2003
15/15: Collaborations Of Sound And Visuals (CD) The Flower Eating Expe... After Hours 2004
Afterhours #20: Anniversary Special (Summer 2004) (2xCD + CD, Enh) Louis After Hours 2004
All Areas Volume 49 (CD, Comp) Nightly Cares Visions Magazine 2004
Condominium (CD) Once A Shiny Morning P... Mousike Lab 2004
Lastebil (Debris From A Fragmented Culture Volume 1) (CDr, Comp, Mixed) Now There's That Fear ... Not On Label (Jakobsen) 2004
Objectif 2004 - Vol. 2 (CD) Weeping Rock, Rock Les Inrockuptibles 2004
Siglo 21 6.0 (CD, Comp) Weeping Rock,Rock EMI Music (Spain) 2004
The Trip Created By Snow Patrol (2xCD) Green Green Grass Of T... Family Recordings (UK) 2004
The Unending, Undying, & Often Unforgiving Pursuit Of Spring (2xCD, Smplr) Nightly Cares Caroline Records 2004
Wicker Park (Soundtrack Album) (CD, Album) We Have A Map Of The P... Lakeshore Records 2004
Hello Greece! 14 Songs From Morr Music (CD, Comp, Promo) Flow Not So Fast Old M... Pop+Rock (Magazine), Pop+Rock (Magazine) 2005
Music First (CD, Comp) Green Grass Of Tunnel PIAS Spain 2005
Original Music From The Film "Screaming Masterpiece" (3 versions) Green Grass Of Tunnel Smekkleysa ... 2005
Duyster.II (2xCD) The Ballad Of The Brok... Play It Again Sam [PIAS] 2006
Essential Lounge 2 (2xCD, Comp) Please Sing My Spring ... UBL Recordings 2006
Kitchen Motors Family Album / Fjölskyldualbúm Tilraunaeldhússins (Comp) (2 versions) Asleep In A Hiding Place 12 Tónar ... 2006
LateNightTales (CD, Mixed, Comp) Green Grass Of Tunnel Azuli Records 2006
FatCat Records Sampler 2007 (CD, Smplr, Promo) Blessed Brambles FatCat Records 2007
FatCat Records Spring & Summer 2007 (CD, Smplr, Promo) Moon Pulls FatCat Records 2007
Glaube (CD, Promo) I'm 9 Today Persona Non Grata, Morr Music 2007
Iceland Airwaves Eruption (CD) Dancing Behind My Eyelids IMX Icelandic Music Export 2007
Mixed Tape (CD, Smplr, Promo, Dig) They Made Frogs Smoke ... Warner/Chappell Music Australia 2007
Play Station (#10'07) (CD, Comp) Dancing Behind My Eyelids Play Magazine 2007
All Areas Volume 107 (CD, Comp) Illuminated Visions Magazine 2009
Causes 2 (CD, Ltd, Comp) Asleep In A Hiding Place Waxploitation 2009
Unofficial Releases:
Please Smile My Noise Bleed (CD, EP)   Par Media Music 2002
Friends Of The Random Summer (3xCDr, Comp) Náttúrúbúrú, 0,00... Not On Label 2005
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YouTube Videos

Múm, Green Grass Of Tunnel
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by hardcoresomatic Nov 11, 2005 (edited over 4 years ago)
Mum is personally one of my favorite artists in the IDM/electronic/etc. genre. Their music sounds almost innocent, and childlike, while still remaining intelligent and beautiful. Their music varies from warm bright yellow sunshine songs to chilling yet gorgeous soundscapes. When vocals are in a track, they are reminiscent of bjork to a degree (both icelandic), but definitely have a feeling and sound of their own. I cant wait to see them live someday.
Review by moire Jul 28, 2005 (edited over 4 years ago)
It should be noted that múm puts on a great live show. I saw them at the First Unitarian Church sanctuary in Philadelphia, and it was amazing. Imagine a chapel filled to the brim, the entire audience sitting attentively, all eyes and ears on this beautiful music. (I'm all for getting down, but this is *sitting* music, damnit!) Unlike some other good-but-boring-for-live-shows artists in this vein *cough*City Centre*cough*Morr*cough*, múm really didn't rely on their laptops. Sure, they had a laptop sitting in the corner to play some sequenced material, but they also had live drums, live analog synths, guitars, flute? (if I remember correctly), accordian, and... a musical saw!? And it sounded good. So cool.

múm doesn't just do great studio albums -- they also do great live shows that reflect the studio material. While I'm not all that thrilled with their most recent output, I'll be sure to see them if they tour again.

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