Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy

Múm have gone just a little further into weirdsville with "Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy," their fourth album of chilly, quirky pop.

This time, the Icelandic experimental band sounds a little less chilly and distant, and they rely a little more heavily on glitchy, hazy circus sounds than on icy folk. And they try to cover their bases with their catchiest -- and most bizarre -- songs to date.

It opens with an odd twanging melody, which sounds like someone trying to figure out if a stringed instrument is actually playable. As guitar, flute and strings weave their way in, it begins to bloom into a smooth, warm little song. "Bless the weeds that grow beyond/Just like rain and dust appear," they croon in unison. "Go, go smear the poison ivy/Let your crooked hands be holy..."

It's followed by "A Little Bit, Sometimes," a sensual, tinkly little electro-accordion melody. And the songs that follow are no less odd: bouncy glitchpop, mellow piano ballads and swirling tinkly melodies, mournful psych-blues, driving glitch-rock, sprightly folkpop, and experimental jumbles of colourful, trickling, completely confusing music.

Múm has always been about the pretty, folky, icy pop music with plenty of experimental flourishes. And fundamentally, they stick to that in "Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy," with all sorts of odd instrumentation and electronic layers.

And yet, something is different -- Múm seems to dance from sparkling sonic mosaics to sprightly, driving indiepop at the drop of a hat. They infuse their music with a dizzying array of instruments -- melodica, acoustic guitar, accordion, rushing piano melodies, xylophone, mournful horns, flutes, and even a lonely harmonica. And, of course, glitchy hazy waves of synth are wrapped around almost everything.

Their otherworldly-pop sound is enhanced by the wispy chorale of mellow, soft voices, no matter how creepy the songs are ("If you snap it like a twig/Glue it back with little sticks"). Most of them are pretty creepy if you know the words, even during their more poetry-laden moments ("These berries are eyes/Your eyes, my eyes/Birds turn their necks/Stare at them, long for them...").

"Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy" is Múm's eeriest -- and creepiest -- album to date, a divinely pretty musical trip, with some really weird songs. Like listening to a bunch of elves on acid.

--- 4.5 stars, out of 5 ---

Im a huge fan of Mum. ive got all of their CDs and singles and adore each song on each one. That includes this one, Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy. I like this album very much.. But it is a bit different from Mum's other CDs. (dont let that scare you away if you're a fan or just getting into them, just listen)
The main differences between this and their past albums are vocals and instroments. Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy has much much more male vocals than any of their past work. Female singer Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir sang on almost all past Mum albums but sadly left the band and was not a part of this new one. I must say, i miss her voice very much here. To me, this is a new part of Mum that im still getting used to. Its not a bad thing, just different. As for the difference concerning instruments... this album is less electronic and more organic. Thats not to say that past Mum albums have been all made on the computer or anything. I just mean that they use much more organic sounds like piano, glock, kazoo, strings... yes yes yes. This album is a bit more fast-pace compared to the last few. could maybe be compared (instromentaly) to the UK band Psapp.. ..sort of.

all in all, I would advise you to buy to BUY THIS ALBUM.
its very good.
its a bit different from past Mum releases but it still holds true to thier sound.
wonderful, playful icelandic music.

If you already like them or are just getting into them, rest assured, Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy is a beautiful album.

múm's playful approach to folktronica is already a solid staple among its contemporary experimental artists, regardless of this Icelandic group's changing members or branching out styles. Upon first listen the album defied my expectations. But then again, I couldn't pinpoint exactly what I awaited to hear. Through the fourth rotation, I was already familiar with the toytronic treatment and the lo-fi acoustic melodies, and started concentrating on the elaborated details of the individual tracks. And one by one (as with all múm's previous releases) the ratings started climbing - from three to four; from four to five. Bottom line is that múm delivers beyond deliverable expectations and leaves one more than satisfied with this addition to their already celebrated discography. Recomended for that múm feeling. Favorite tracks: A Little Bit, Sometimes, Guilty Rocks.