by Eric Empson
My experience with the band Mumble has been a unique one. I've seen two stellar performances at the monthly tribute nights at the Elbow Room in Ypsilanti and on both occasions their interpretations of Radiohead and David Bowie classics were powerful and played with creativity and precision. So I already knew they were tight performers, but I didn’t have any sense of what their own material might sound like - until now.



Band: Mumble
Title: Cerberus Speaks
Self-Released: 2001

written by Eric Empson
edited by Mitch Phillips

After getting a copy of Mumble's “Cerberus Sings” EP, I'm happy to report It didn't sound anything like what the title implies (i.e. a three-headed hound guarding the gates of Hell while yelping out a tune).

Mumble seem to borrow from a wide array of artists which makes it difficult to pigeonhole them. But for those who prefer genre associations in their reviews, the material could be described as art-rock, prog-rock, math-metal, or perhaps even emo but with a very broad sonic pastiche.

The disc opens with "Driven", which sounds like a cross between Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” and a deep cut from the back end of Radiohead’s “The Bends”. The music shifts and careens with varying time signatures, tempos, tones and moods. It's clever at times and deeply complex at others.

“More or Less the Usual” will please you if you’d like to here a solid outtake from The Police’s “Zenyatta Mendatta” sessions. I happen to love the Police, so to hear the guitarist echo Andy Summers in tone and feel was impressive. The rhythm section chugs along nicely with the energy of a young Sting and Stewart Copeland.

A vocal comparison escaped me until I heard the third track, “Peculiar (She’s So)”. Though their vocals are usually quite layered on this disc, when a single voice dominated it reminded me of Lindsey Buckingham - which I mean as a compliment.

“Chainletter” delivers some not overly aggressive groove oriented math-rock. When Mumble slides into the purposefully melodic passages on this track the band soars. And that's when the realization hit me: this is an insanely complex indie record.

If all was well in the music world, Mumble's full-length release would be produced by some famous dial spinner. They need a huge budget and a major label production to bring out the sound I think they envisioned but, sonically, haven’t quite achieved on this demo EP. When you dream this big, the end result should be in Technicolor. But that takes mucho dinero or a production by Nigel Goodrich - probably both.

Don’t get me wrong; this EP was recorded and produced with as much musical acumen and ambition as any indie band could muster. But sadly, the only way Mumble’s true vision will be realized is if most people start buying smart, creative records again. If that happens, and Mumble's material continues to mature, then I think their next release could approach the pantheon of XTC’s Skylarking, Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, Steely Dan’s “Aja” or Genesis’ “Foxtrot”.

Come see Mumble perform originals at the Elbow Room in Ypsilanti on Saturday, June 25th, 2005. You won't be disappointed.

Track Listing

driven
more or less the usual
peculiar
chainletter
turning into you
webbed edit

Visit Mumblemusic.com for song samples and more information.