Múm: Smilewound

Múm spent more than a decade foraging under the radar mixing mutated organic electronica and (mellow) post-rock. So last year's Early Birds compilation of early material felt like a door being closed on an era. There's still that urge to tease and twist songs, but the experimental edge of the Icelandic band has softened to the point where, at heart, Smilewound is easygoing electro-pop. Embracing structure, these are songs with verses and choruses, hooks and sugary melodies, unencumbered by any desire to be fashionable. There's a childlike appeal (bordering on twee), alongside neat production touches, to the mid-section trio of Slow Down, Candlestick and One Smile, which overrides some slightly soporific missteps elsewhere. Special mention goes to the glitchy pastoral-pop finale Whistle, an unlikely but lovely collaboration with the evergreen Kylie. mum.is
Download: Underwater Snow, Slow Down