Smilewound

Released in 2013, Smilewound marks a refined return to the intricate glitch-pop roots that first brought múm international acclaim. Following the more organic, band-oriented sound of 'Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know', this record reintroduces a heavier reliance on electronic manipulation and IDM-inspired percussion. The album features the return of founding member Gyða Valtýsdóttir, whose presence contributes to the record's haunting cello arrangements and ethereal vocal character. A notable highlight is the closing track 'Whistle', a collaboration with Kylie Minogue originally recorded for the film 'Jack and Diane', which seamlessly integrates a global pop icon into the band's idiosyncratic, submerged sonic universe. Critically, the album was praised for its 'crystalline' production and its ability to evoke the specific, chilly atmosphere of the Icelandic landscape without falling into cliché. It stands as one of the most cohesive entries in their later catalog, bridging the gap between their early experimentalism and their later melodic sensibilities.