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Post by stuhuggett on Mar 2, 2007 14:35:37 GMT 1
Mumm-Ra in Brighton is April 14th, which is a Saturday! If I don't see you there, Alfie, I'll see you at your own gig then!
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Post by alfie on Mar 2, 2007 15:18:46 GMT 1
that should be fine, where are they playing?
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Post by stuhuggett on Mar 3, 2007 12:08:32 GMT 1
Concorde 2, supported by Youngplan...
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Post by alfie on Mar 5, 2007 15:42:23 GMT 1
I'll check my diary and get back to you
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Post by caroline on Mar 8, 2007 19:11:11 GMT 1
The word from our beloved media mongrel, who finds himself temporarily technologically embarrassed (ie, can't get to a 'puter), is that Mummra and Youngplan are playing the Crypt on Thursday 12th April, at 7.30pm, and it's £5 to get in.
So there.
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Post by carolyn on Mar 8, 2007 20:19:02 GMT 1
What...the same night as the sugababes at the brighton centre? The swines...
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Post by stuhuggett on Mar 10, 2007 13:15:43 GMT 1
Hastings Virgin has got a big stock of 'What Would Steve Do?' cd-singles in now, so no excuses not to pick one up!
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 13, 2007 19:30:19 GMT 1
Ah nuts, did anyone see last night's Crypt gig on South East Today earlier? I was cooking my dinner and didn't find out 'til afterwards.
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Post by stuhuggett on May 5, 2007 21:55:38 GMT 1
The tracklisting for 'These Things Move In Threes' is offically out:
1. Now Or Never 2. Out Of The Question 3. These Things Move In Threes 4. She's Got You High 5. Song B 6. Sick Deal 7. Light Up This Room 8. Starlight 9. This Is Easy 10. What Would Steve Do? 11. Down Down Down
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Post by stuhuggett on May 16, 2007 21:58:24 GMT 1
Meanwhile, the B-side of one of the 'She's Got You High' 7"s (an acoustic version of 'There She Is' on the blue sleeve/white vinyl edition) is produced by... Harvey Summers! The writing credit is only for Noo this time, rather than Mumm-Ra, if you're interested.
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Post by petra on May 16, 2007 23:32:22 GMT 1
Eep. Is that who I think it is?
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Post by stuhuggett on May 17, 2007 1:45:21 GMT 1
Maybe! Harvey's a very old friend of ours: he was in the same year at Bexhill High School as Michael, Paul and Daniel. He's done very well for himself in the world of music, although points you probably won't find on his official biography include playing guitar for 4D Special Agent (pre-Duplo) and composing the music for Dick Kempson's Bexhill High production of 'The Tempest', which earned him a teenage slot on BBC local news back in the day (I have it on VHS still...) - The soundtrack cassette (and school posters) featured pen&ink artwork by Daniel, whereas the play itself starred the, um, legendary Jez Fielder..
I'm not sure if you've ever actually met him, or not, Petra!
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Post by stuhuggett on May 19, 2007 12:26:11 GMT 1
Without wishing to bring the wrath of Columbia Records down upon my head, there's an official link from Mumm-Ra's latest email for listening to the new album. If anyone's interested, I'll PM it, although it may well be somewhere on www.mumm-ra.com anyway (I haven't looked). I'm at the Library at the moment, but I'll try and get a listen to it over the weekend, if Rob's computer's free for any length of time.
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Post by stuhuggett on May 21, 2007 12:37:30 GMT 1
Oof, they've fallen outside of the Top 40 again...
For what it's worth, I'll post my thoughts on the album now.
I think it's very strong, so long as you're a fan of the music Mumm-Ra are currently playing, as it's in a different, more commercial, style to the sitar & violin prog-folkiness of their older stuff. The singles haven't indicated it so far, but they've really pulled out all the stops and gone for an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink string-fuelled production on the majority of the other tracks. This is apparent straight-off, with the slow-waltz of 'Now Or Never' pretty-mmuch setting-out their stall for the album. Some of the production may be over-egged: 'Light Up This Room', for example, has changed from the stripped-down performance on the 'Black Hurts Day...' ep, so a full-band epic, with swelling orchestral crescendos added. Whereas 'The Sick Deal' (one of the stronger new tracks) has a more Lalo Schiffrin use of the strings to add a 'chase' feel to the song - I rather enjoyed this, as it put me in mind of early Pale Fountains, of Associates circa 'Perhaps'. If they hark back to any 80's band inparticular, it's gotta be The Teardrop Explodes (the brass on 'Song B' is a dead-ringer for 'Reward'); though, as we've said before, they're also very close to earlier Blur ('Modern Life Is Rubbish' era), particularly live. The first half of the album, where the bulk of the singles lie, is the stronger side; later on things lose their way a bit with the downer-disco of 'This Is Easy', which is the least memorable track on the album (it's a shame this made the cut, and something like '5/4' didn't). 'What Would Steve Do?' feels a bit mis-sequenced late on in the album, although the somewhat epic closer 'Down Down Down' is a fitting ending (and, again, wouldn't be out of place on 'Leisure' or 'Modern Life...'). Both 'Starlight' and 'These Things Move In Threes' (from last year's NME freebie) are both great tracks and could still make valid singles, so there's still a chance for that elusive hit... I think they've done a fine job with making a commercial album (it's over within the special 45 minute playing-time), so if you liked the singles, you'll be ok!
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Post by petra on May 21, 2007 13:11:42 GMT 1
Mumm-ra are playing this, which looks really good. Doesn't make up in any way for the HSBC thing. I have no idea why you're still promoting them on here, Stuey.
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Post by carolyn on May 21, 2007 13:47:49 GMT 1
I'm not trying to answer for Stu, I'm sure he will next time online, however I think the reason there are frequent updates on here is about keeping everyone up to date with local musicians hitting the national music press. I guess there could be a debate about the difference between reportage and promotion, however I know people who read the boards who follow Mumm-Ra / Young Plan etc and value having frequent updates on here. It's better than waiting for their mailing list updates as Stu is often more up to date.
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Post by petra on May 21, 2007 13:51:51 GMT 1
I'm sure Mumm-ra can afford their own publicists at this stage. Stu can spend his time promoting a band that sells the services of the world's largest bank if he likes; this is his site. I'm surprised, that's all. I think it's gross.
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Post by carrie on May 21, 2007 13:56:27 GMT 1
hmmm. with carolyn on the local thing. stu, as far as i can tell is neither responsible for or pleased about the hsbc saga.
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Post by petra on May 21, 2007 14:03:01 GMT 1
And I implied neither. I'm asking: why continue to promote a band that is clearly more than able to promote itself - that has the muscle of a gigantic label behind it? And more importantly, why on EARTH promote a band that is itself promoting a seriously vile international financier? If Mumm-ra were promoting Nestle, or fur, or the National Front, would we still be happily posting links to articles?
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Post by marcusjr on May 21, 2007 14:07:44 GMT 1
I'm always interested to find out how they're getting on with that greasy pole. I don't think you should see it as promotion as such but rather serving an interest that exists amongst people who have seen them go from playing in their local to getting into bed with a bank.
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Post by petra on May 21, 2007 14:14:47 GMT 1
I see what you mean. We happily discuss stuff we don't like on here all the time without a qualm. But I do think there's a difference between that and posting links to everything the band is doing and every print article about them . And I'm still interested in what the cut-off point would be - what does a local band have to DO to get Stuey to stop promoting them??? I mean - HSBmotherfrickingC!
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Post by marcusjr on May 21, 2007 14:23:21 GMT 1
God knows, The Crayons ran over his cat once and he still promotes them. Tim Hoyte stole his girlfriend and got her on crack and Stu can't do enough for him.
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Post by petra on May 21, 2007 14:26:34 GMT 1
That Hoyte. He must be stopped. Remind me to frown in his direction and not notice his album some more.
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Post by stuhuggett on May 21, 2007 19:59:23 GMT 1
First off, anything I've posted on here about Mumm-Ra comes merely from observation, not from anyone associated with the band. I don't have any special information ahead of anyone else, I've just been collating bits I've turned up. I'm aware that me posting a review of the album before it's released could be construed as crossing a line, and is certainly doing their promotional work for them, but I have honestly been asked what the album is like. The Mumm-Ra marketing machine isn't yet as effective at reaching us lot generally as, say, Keane's is, which is why I've been flagging up info about B-sides, where the records are being stocked, etc, for the benefit of our friends reading these boards (I really don't know if that many people read these boards otherwise). I don't know Mumm-Ra personally (although the times I have met one or two of them they've been perfectly friendly), but there's more interest in how they're getting on because i) they have a history of playing gigs with Rumiko, and ii) they're the local band with the most industry-support to Make It Big, which I think could benefit all of us involved in local music in the long run. I'm genuinely excited about their album being released, and I think they're a great guitar-pop band. Some of our friends never liked them, some went off them when they signed to Sony, some went off them when they hooked-up with the NME or HSBC, and some are fans, although I suspect most of us lot on the boards are indifferent. I publicised the use of their music in an advert because I think it's artistically and morally a mistake, but it's unfair to make a parallel between a bank and the National Front. We all know banks are reprehensible and exploitative (with the possible exception of The Co-Operative Bank), but we all (?) use them out of necessity, which is less of a direct moral decision than buying Nestle products, wearing fur, or joining a Far-Right organisation. Yes, Mumm-Ra shouldn't be soundtracking a bank advert, but they got on the side of exploitative big business when they signed, as planned, to a major record company. If I ever do personally feel that Mumm-Ra have done something so drastic that their name should never be mentioned again, I'd just cease sharing information about them. For the moment, I think their current momentum is noteworthy, and that we're all free to make positive or negative comment upon it.
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Post by stuhuggett on May 24, 2007 12:14:56 GMT 1
The link to the Mumm-Ra album playback is now on their homepage, so even if you're not intending on picking-up a copy, at least you can listen to it for nothing...
Does that count as a public-service announcement or more advertising? I'm not sure any more!
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Post by alfie on May 29, 2007 9:17:42 GMT 1
It was nice seeing the guys yesterday at Resident Records, they seem to have retained their easygoing personality and not have boosted their egos into stratosphere, which often happens with people that get signed. Their acoustic set was made up on the spot, quite messy really, but good fun. The atmosphere was very laid back and it felt like they were just playing a couple of songs in someone's front room, really. Had a brief chat with Noo whilst he signed copies of the record for spotty teenagers in awe, and also said hi to Nyall. They mentioned they were thinking of me the other day, remembering us jamming together at the Black Horse festival. Nice of them really...also had a suspicion that Noo wrote some songs using a guitar tuning i showed him in the shop years ago, if i remember well. Thought that was quite funny! Anyway, nice day altogether, apart from the shitty weather. Spent time in pubs, then finished the night off with a nice pizza and bottle of wine.
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 21, 2007 12:14:14 GMT 1
Hmm: October tour cancelled (ostensibly to begin work on 2nd album...), rumours that they're having to make their own videos (lent weight by the Pulse feature) as Sony have withdrawn funding... Looks like Aug 31st's Redstack gig may be less celebratory than it should be (even with Youngplan and the Ra's own film in support)? Should still be a fun night though! And, incidentally, my last night living here, if anyone fancies popping along with us?
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Post by stuhuggett on Aug 27, 2007 21:11:00 GMT 1
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Post by Michael on Sept 14, 2007 20:30:55 GMT 1
'She's got you high' played in the cafe on Eastenders.
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Post by stuhuggett on Sept 15, 2007 13:17:50 GMT 1
Meanwhile, 'Starlight' appears to have been released as... a new song on their Myspace. Where's the single then?
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