Remember the carousels you used to ride as a little kid? I do. Every summer, Long Beach Island, New Jersey was my playground, and Fantasy Island amusement park my jungle gym. At six years old, the only ride you were big enough to go on was the carousel in the center of the park. Being at only 4'', the carousel made you feel like the shit. Your imagination ran wild when riding that thing; the sights of gold laurel trim, the celebratory music playing in the background, the feeling of being above everyone else on top of your plastic horse, bear, or dragon (everyone raced for the dragon seat)...it was all there and it was enough to make you feel like a God for a mere three minutes.
England's The Mummers creates music that instantly takes you back to those childhood memories, where it actually felt good to be a kid and you didn't have to worry about last minute papers, deadlines, or the one potato you have left at the bottom of your dormitory fridge (my current situation ah thank you). The Mummers are blissfully romantic, orchestral, composite, and charming. Blending the big band, Baroque orchestration with contemporary pop arrangements, The Mummers breathe new life into a form of music that should be heard and appreciated more. Singer Raissa Khan-Panni sounds like a more competent, understandable Bjork, soaring high and below some of the nicest singing I've heard in awhile. String and horn arrangements remind you of another not-so-distant band, Beirut. In fact, they could be cousins. The Mummers follow a strong lineage of Old World European arrangements (their name refers to the medieval traveling musicians and actors that traveled from house to house), with boisterous, humorous horns and strings that lure you into a Wonderland of sorts with the Mad Hatter as the conductor.
Recently, The Mummers covered the Black Keys' "Everlasting Light" off of Brothers. I've had consistent eargasms ever since.
The Black Keys -- "Everlasting Night" (The Mummers Remix)
They also sound pretty damn good live.
--Mike
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