“Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK” by múm (2000)

Icelandic Glitch group múm’s debut album went pretty unnoticed when it was released back in 2000, but due to the band’s popularity scaling, it has become a cult classic.

This texture rich Electronic album is a humble and honest Experimental creation by very talented people who manage to entertain you with inventive twists and turns. The music lends itself to various interpretations, but what is truly amazing is that every single sound behaves like its coming alive while they surround you in they’re dreamy aura. Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today is OK is an ingenious production that instead of shoving sounds into your head, it reaches into your deepest memories and gives you the tools to make sense of it all.

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Preview There is a Number of Small Things

“The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan” by Bob Dylan (1963)

Following the debut of his first album, Woody Guthrie pupil Bob Dylan went on to write an album that would feature songs written by him, instead of covering and arranging old folk tunes. Thus, in the midst's of the Civil Rights Movement emerged a true masterpiece of songwriting; one that would position itself among the most important recordings of our time: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.

What can I say about this chef-d'oeuvre that has not been said before? I don’t know, but I will say this: hold this record tight to you and try to understand it, within it lie powerful words that compose an inspirational letter dedicated to all of humanity; a letter that must never be forgotten.

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Preview Blowin' In The Wind

“Von” by Sigur Rós (1997)

After getting a record deal with Sugarcubes-owned label Bad taste, Icelandic Post-Rock band Sigur Rós (meaning “Victory Rose”) released they’re debut album titled Von (which means “Hope”).

Structurally, the album behaves as a minimalist recording, utilizing rock instruments to produce simple melodies that exhale an ethereal sounding representation of Iceland’s landscapes and emotions by taking elements of Dream Pop and Ambient music. Thanks to post production, the record’s supernal sound is magnified by adding another layer of celestial sounds to it, and all of it summed up with lead singer Jónsi Birgisson's trademark falsetto voice.

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Preview Myrkur

“Unknown Pleasures” by Joy Division (1979)

Emerging from The Gig That Changed The World, friends Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook bought musical equipment and started a band. Eventually two more members would join them: Stephen Morris and Ian Curtis (the latter would later achieve an iconic status). They would call themselves Joy Division.

Under the management of Robert Gretton, Factory Record's own Tony Wilson and genius record producer Martin Hannet, Joy Division recorded they're debut LP titled Unknown Pleasures. The most recognizable characteristics of this recording are Martin Hannet’s outstanding control over the general sound of it (specially the percussions), producing an exceptional spacious atmosphere, as well as Ian Curtis’ brilliantly dark and woeful lyrics sung by his own gloomy and expressive baritone vocals to the band's sad and energetic melodies. Unknown Pleasures stands firm as one of Post Punk's greatest recordings (if not the greatest) and inspiring music for generations to come.

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Preview Shadowplay

“Life’s Too Good” by The Sugarcubes (1988)

In 1986 Icelandic band KUKL’s label was closed off. Due to this the band broke up, but later that year, members from KUKL and surrealist group Medusa got together and created the label Smekkleysa (or Bad Taste). The label had relatively no money, so to bring some income they created a pop group called The Sugarcubes.

They’re debut album Life’s Too Good is insanely good, and I say “insanely” because the music is very very crazy. The album is undeniably pop, however it still manages to behave as a Post Punk recording. The songs are quite imaginative and clever, whacky and sincere. It includes humor, sorrowfulness, and themes that are way darker than they seem; all of it featuring Björk’s erratic and childlike beautiful vocals.

Life’s Too Good is an ingenious tour de force at invention and experimentation that manages to convey the message that anything is possible when it comes to music.

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Preview Birthday

“The Scream” by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1978)

Right out of the Bromley Contingent comes Siouxsie and the Banshees, who after launching a Top 10 UK single, they finally release they're anticipated debut album The Scream.

The album opens up a vortex of an intense and cold atmosphere which wraps around you and doesn’t let go for the trip ahead. It’s hard, it’s slick and all lead by Siouxsie’s energetic vocals. When the album is finished, you feel as if that undescriptive aura has let you go, but you are still left with the dirty syringe cavities of a sound so rough and penetrating that you are instantly addicted for life.

To this day this Alfred Hitchcock-inspired album is hailed by various people, such as Robert Smith of The Cure, and is also considered by many as the pioneering sound of the Post Punk musical movement.

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Preview Metal Postcard 

“Pullhair Rubeye” by Avey Tare & Kría Brekkan (2007)

Pullhair Rubeye is an Experimental Folk album that was recorded by married couple Avey Tare (who is actually Dave Portner from Animal Collective) and Kría Brekkan (who is actually Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir formerly of múm). When the album was finished, they decided to put all the tracks in reverse, and some of them also in double speed.

Although the “reversed” album does have an unusually serene quality, it just seems to be lacking depth and doesn’t offer an engaging atmosphere; and the double speed is just plain overkill.

Now with proper software people were able to edit the album so it would be heard “forward”, which I did. The “forward” version is a lot more pleasing than the “reversed” version. Some of the songs don’t have lyrics, but the ones that do, feature the enchantingly smooth childlike vocals of Kría accompanied by Avey; all this encompassed by an interesting contrast between sad melodies and sweet lyrics.

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(both “reversed” and “forward” versions)

Preview Sis Around the Sándmill (“forward” version)

“Homogenic” by Björk (1997)

After the release of Post, Björk had finished her first two albums which were songs she had written throughout her lifetime, and now had to come up with a truly new record; one in which she would produce Icelandic Techno with an aim on nature, which ended up sounding like a mix between Electronica and Trip Hop.

The first thing I noticed in Homogenic is that it may be her most Experimental and academically challenging album to date. Filled with a rich and perplexing amount of percussions and the inclusion of mystifying strings, Homogenic's depiction of nature portrays the hard task of equilibrium between a sensation of rugged chaos and complexity, and that of personal ataraxis and pure emotionally driven love.

Note that there are two versions of the song All Is Full Of Love. The one on the album is a remix by Howie B and has stripped down strings and percussions. The “intended” version is available as a single and is also included as the first track of her Greatest Hits CD.

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Preview Hunter

“The Dresden Dolls” by The Dresden Dolls (2003)

After meeting at a Halloween party in 2000 and doing some live performances, The Dresden Dolls released they’re self titled debut album. The duo describe they’re music as Brechtian Punk Cabaret, but it is generally considered as Dark Cabaret.

Stylistically, the actual cabaret sensation is very notorious in the record; it is always present yet always mixed around depending on the song, with either Alternative Rock, Punk or Pop. The album boasts a good sense of humor but what I really extol is the diversity in they’re melodies which makes it an adventurous ride where it’s not easy to predict how the song is going to end. There are a lot of things going on but what is undisputable are the tracks catchiness and feminine attributes mixed with a very direct and playful mockery of social and political hypocrisies, all blended cohesively with lead singer Amanda Palmer’s broody, dark and deep vocals.

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Preview Good Day

“Post” by Björk (1995)

Post is the second album by Björk and follows up Debut’s concept of recording material of past days. The album was produced by Nellee Hooper, Tricky, Graham Massey of 808 State and Howie B. This entire collage of very talented producers inspired Björk to record slightly more experimental and diverse material, and more predominantly influenced by Electronica and Trip Hop.

Post swallows the shy image she portrayed in Debut by delivering a more adventurous and contrasting vision by wandering of to places and situations that were left unexplored in Debut; places and situations with slightly darker themes located in a more urban context while shifting from personal to global positions; all enchanted by Björk’s beautiful voice and emotion.

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Preview Hyperballad

“Paper Monsters” by Dave Gahan (2003)

 

With all of Depeche Mode's members starting projects of they're own it was only a matter of time until lead singer Dave Gahan stepped to the challenge by releasing his very personal debut solo album titled Paper Monsters.

The first thing I noticed while listening to the album is that the songs are quite reminiscing of recordings with Depeche Mode (specially the albums Ultra and Exciter) but offer a chiseled rock sounding ambiance. The true downside is that Dave Gahan is not a great lyricist, however, he gets away with it by deploying his ability to elevate mediocre lyrics to an emotional apex just by merely exhibiting his expressible baritone singing voice and surprisingly showcasing his multi-instrumentalist abilities in the recording session.

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Preview Dirty Sticky Floors

“Debut” by Björk (1993)

In 1992 Icelandic pop band The Sugarcubes split up, and lead singer Björk began her solo career by recording the album Debut (which isn't really her solo debut, but that's another story). Produced by Nellee Hooper, the album encompassed songs Björk had written throughout her lifetime.

Debut boasts a mixture of Electronica driven intellectual, dance and love songs, all accompanied by Björk’s beautiful and broad soprano vocals, emotional lyrics and interesting beats. What is truly outstanding is that it’s not Björk’s voice what takes the spotlight, but rather the amount of emotion she is able to convey with it. The entire album is like a little Björk sprinkled all over; you get to enjoy great music while understanding, from various perspectives, themes of love, nature and heritage.

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Preview Human Behaviour

“Confusion is Sex” by Sonic Youth (1983)

NYC's own Sonic Youth formed in 1981 and right away they affiliated themselves with the No Wave movement. They're debut album was recorded with a low budget but still showcased they're proto-Noise Rock and Alternative Rock potential by redefining what an electric guitar can do thru unusual tuning methods.

Being truly honest, the album is all over the place, the singing is somehow out of tune, the whole recording sounds improvised; it is an experimental mess. However, within it lies some sort of hidden dark power that without permission grabs your attention and obliges you to think and try to understand the message behind it. It is not a message of hope, it is a message of despair; an indicator that pop ruined all and that they’re just trying to rebuild from the ground up a body of work from a dismembered and rotten corpse.

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Preview Shaking Hell

“Apparat Organ Quartet” by Apparat Organ Quartet (2002)

 

While it took three years in the making, Apparat Organ Quartet's sole debut self titled album is a rare Icelandic gem. It features a delectable ensemble of electronic organs that are both catchy, clean sounding and emotionally conveying. They refer to they’re music as Machine Rock & Roll but essentially the album sounds like recordings of Electronica pioneers Kraftwerk but under the influence of prescription drugs, utilizing organs and playing darker and more sinister electronic beats. They’re music is structured quite intricately as they compact very complex ideas into simple tunes that dare to showcase an alternative side to progressive rock.

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(Password: musicstoretr.blogspot.com)

Preview Romantika

Suggestion Box

I will use this place as a suggestion box for artists, albums or genres you think I should explore that I haven’t featured yet. You can also make general suggestion as of the general layout of the page, features you would like to be seen, or other problems.

If you want to make comments or suggestions of a particular post I advise you do it there.

Note: If you suggest an album specify the artist. Thanks in advance.

POST SUGGESTIONS IN COMMENTS!

About

I listen to a lot of music. I recognize a lot of songs. I’m walking on the street and all of a sudden I remember and start humming or singing a tune, riff, beat. I’m a walking and living jukebox.

Around two years ago I started composing Computer Music, pretty shallow I'd say, but it would later evolve by implementing vocals and inclinations towards various genres and artists.

So my plan is to learn about great music from various styles and backgrounds in the hopes of falling in love with foreign sounds, and if lucky, it will inspire me to make better music.

In conclusion, this is a blog about this journey; every recording or film I encounter from now on that is related to music I will post here. There is however, the matter of the path I choose to take: my path or the suggested path. My path are recordings I encounter by myself and the suggested path are the ones that you may want me to feature. Your opinion is always welcome.

Now, every post cannot simply be the name of a recording; thats would be stale and boring. So to spice things up I will include the following (in that order) in every post:

1. Picture of the artist/artists.
2. Picture of the record’s cover art.
3. A short review of the material, including brief historical facts.
4. The link to the full recording for evaluation purposes.
5. A preview of the recording. This may be one song or a snippet of a song.

Hopefully you get the idea of what I’m going for here and help me to get this thing going.

~Sincerely, V.

Disclaimer

Mousike Hunter is a music discovery blog and aspires to collect and present in it music that is either relatively unknown or that its iconic value is so important that it deserves more recognition. Mousike Hunter does not host any files within its own server. Mousike Hunter does not even have a server, therefore all the music presented in this blog is gathered from third party sources that I have no control of.

I respect the choices of artists regarding the way they want they’re music to be heard, either distributing they’re music freely through the Web, only snippets of some songs or none of the methods mentioned above. If the artist or the artists authorized agents advise me that Mousike Hunter is linking to an illegally posted song, or any illegally posted material of the artists, I will remove the link to the specified material.

If you are the copyright owner of any music material linked in this site, I urge you to recognize that the link or embedded material is not the music file. The link only points to a location of the file in the Web. If you want to take down the file, you can contact me at v.mousike@gmail.com so I can give you the specified link of the third party that is hosting the file.

Note that the links I post are for evaluation purposes and I encourage my readers to buy the original content as well as linking my readers to the artists official site.

If you still have any questions I advise you to contact me at v.mousike@gmail.com.