Mumford & Sons

Greetings to whoever held out hope on checking this blog again! It's Zatarra again, posting on a whim based on a new obsession of mine and the memory of this feeble little blog that hasn't been touched since June, with my attempt on creating a "Cinemablographer" series of movie reviews. Which might still happen. ...Eventually.

Anyway, I recently stumbled upon the London-based indie-folk group, Mumford & Sons. And, oh my God. I downloaded every song I could find; all of their album, Sigh No More, and a few more, I think. The band consists of four men who all play a multitude of instruments and alternate on various songs within the album. Hints of keyboard, mandolin, accordion, banjo, upright bass, guitar and so on shine through to various degrees depending on the mood of each song. The album alternates between loaded silence and serenity, very simply arranged, to a full, gallivanting orchestra, so fast-paced and lively I can just see myself twirling through gold-tinted fields in a Polaroid snapshot.



Some of the harmonization reminds me of that of the Soggy-Bottom Boys in O Brother, Where Art Thou, but only for an instant. I also occasionally get impressions reminiscent of Flogging Molly with its rousing bouts of fast-strumming banjo, or The Goo Goo Dolls, one of my favorite bands, with its similar showcases of twinkling mandolin that seems to brighten any song it's featured in. Mumford & Sons have their own distinct style and voice, however. Marcus Mumford, the lead singer (no, the other members of the band aren't his sons), has a very distinct voice and, as I was fascinated with seeing while viewing music videos on YouTube (who needs MTV anymore?), that he also plays the bass drum and tambourine with foot pedals in the video for Little Lion Man, one of my favorite, most rousing and field-twirling-worthy singles on the album.



Little Lion Man is amazing. The cinematography and stylization in the video itself is great, and I love the whole idea of playing for the empty theater. Not to mention the pianist's coat is full of awesome.

I agree with a costume designer friend of mine who I worked with this summer, as she observed when this song played off her iPod that singing curses seems to make the song so much more powerful and raw. I can listen to this and any other Mumford & Sons song on endless repeat to try to fully appreciate the lyrics, harmonization, and complicated layers of so many different rhythms and styles played at once. Though they don't have a musician on drum set, Mumford & Sons' music is not lacking in upbeat tempo and conviction, which seems harder to do the more acoustic a band gets.

I am still a new listener to Mumford & Sons but I'm not stopping anytime soon. Go out and listen to some more! I recommend The Cave, Winter Winds, Dust Bowl Dance, and White Blank Page. Enjoy!

Luv,
Zatarra