Search - Mum :: Yesterday Was Dramatic Today Is OK

Igloo Magazine's REVIEW

Pietro Da Sacco | 12/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Review by: R_Garcia, Igloo Magazine (www.igloomag.com)

(10.09.05) I will begin this review with a paraphrase from the included one-sheet: "This album was recorded very shortly after me and Gunni met Kristin and Gyda and became a four people band... It was originally released on an Icelandic label called Thule but early on a number of disputes came up which ended up dragging on for many years... We have the rights for the record back now and are really happy to be re-releasing it on our friends label where it seems to fit in like home."



If not for that disclaimer, one might take this re-release as new compositions from Múm (which I accidentally did when I tossed the CD in my car's player without reading a word.) If this indeed was to be a new release for Múm, it would most certainly be a step back. The sound quality is not exactly on par with what a Múm fan might be used to, and the major-scale over clicky-click beats thing has been beaten to death by a zillion aspiring laptop rockers in countless indie and net-releases for the last five years.



But... this release was recorded in 1999, which if memory serves, was around the time that the clicky movement was first being born (that would place Múm at the vanguard, where they belong.) This disc also provides a candid look into the Múm toolbox; the clean, patient sounds, ethereal keyboards, live instrumentation and pulsing rhythms are all there in infancy, offering up a missing link in the evolutionary story of Múm.



Highlights are "Asleep on a train" which features a hypnotic drum loop, melodica, and bells weaving in and out of a sinewave bass and water-drop melody; "The Ballad of a Broken Birdie Records" which highlights a wispy female vocal over lethargically crunchy clicks and synths; and "Sunday Night Just Keeps on Rolling" which forces the user to wait in anxiety for six of eight minutes before delivering an ejaculatory, up-tempo, bit-degraded drum rush.



All in all, this disc will find its way into my car collection and will most definitely get spins alongside other Mum discs like Summer make good and Finally we are no one. It will also serve as a stopgap until the next collection of new Múm tunes is born."

Tomorrow will be brilliant...

Bosse | Valhalla | 01/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Múm's debut album is subtle in its excellence, but hypnotic when its at its best. The Ballad of Broken Birdie Records will surely tickle your spine and leave you gasping for more.

The future is oh so bright..."

Excellent debut album

C. Mcclelland | 02/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a fan of all types of electronic music, I first came across Mum when I purchased "We Are Glitter" (an album of remixes) by Goldfrapp. Two of it's tracks; "You Never Know" and "Number 1" were remixed by Mum and were given a totally new sound which I loved (Especially "Number 1" - fans of Mum or Goldfrapp must check this remix out!) So, I googled Mum and found that they had already released four albums and a number of EPs. I Went to HMV the next day and purchased "Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is Ok".



I didn't really get into it initially. Not that I'm saying I didn't like it because I did. I just found it a bit hard to listen to as it is very minimal and "light" and there isn't any conventional structure to these songs. I did listen to this album regularly as background music and found it quite relaxing and stimulating at the same time.



A month has passed and I'm now so in love with this album. I was alone at work today (it's a Saturday) and therefore could play what I wanted to hear. I listened to this entire album on repeat ALL day and really got the chance to listen to it properly in it's entirety. It really is a beautiful, charismatic, and atmospheric album. it really does make me feel alive and positive. It puts me in a very good mood.



If you enjoy, calm, tranquil, relaxing music and/or electronic music this is definitely recommended. It's hard to define this music. I guess it's got a "modern folk" sound that is mainly made of electronics. Very small, "insecty", gentle beats with some traditional instruments added for some tracks. Don't expect someting you can dance to (unless you're a bit of a hippy and plan to dance around the fire with your friends or something, he he, that actually sounds like fun) or play to your friends at a party (most people will not appreciate this music - unless they're deep thinkers or open minded, "arty" people). If you liked the instrumentation on Bjork's "Vespertine" you should love this album as much as I do.



If you do get this album and are initially dissappointed, just keep listening to it and try to really LISTEN. Light candles, burn some incense, put headphones on and listen to this with your eyes closed is what I'd suggest. And try listening to it when youre in a calm mood too.



I've just ordered Mum's second album "Finally We Are No One" and I can't wait to hear what it sounds like!



Hope my review helped (",)"