Mumdance - MD003
Mumdance has been on the cutting edge of the UK music scene for several years. From stoking the fires of future grime to incorporating modular synths into DJ sets, the visionary has rarely rested on his laurels, taking the UK sound deeper into the dark experimental territories. When making music that travels to the weird corners of the imagination, it is common for artists to self-release, allowing for real experimentation. With the launch of MD Dubs in 2022, Mumdance followed the same pattern. MD001 seems to confirm this being a sparse and grimy workout, taking more limits from techno and other base genres to create a formidable club-ready two-tracker. With the release of MD003 (2024), things have changed.
Mumdance's MD003 has gone to the campiest edges of dance, and I couldn't be happier. MD003 cast away every idea you may have about Mumdance and his musical philosophies. This record is an absolute party, from the glittery, happy-hardcore-inspired chords of 'Feeling Feelings' to the perfectly pitched old-school vocals of 'All My Love'. These tracks are fabulous with an authentic grindhouse energy that exudes campy, kitschy, and balls-to-the-wall fun. All this being said, there is still nuance and meticulous detail to each track, which takes something that may be a bit silly at first glance and can elevate it to a cult-like status.
The A-side is almost a case study on poppy dance music, with each breakdown feeling meticulously crafted as Mumdance packs every euro-beat and hardcore trick in the book into a mere five and a half minutes. The B-side, on the other hand, ventures into edgier territory. It's a fantastical and surreal journey as this offbeat club tune weaves a cybernetic love story between frenetic, hyperactive synths. The entire record feels like a deliberate concentration of EDM tropes in the same vein as hyperpop, a concentration of mainstream pop elements. Mumdance takes the most outlandish and, for lack of a better word, cheesy elements from every Euro and UK EDM trend of the past few decades and turns it into a riotous celebration.
Tracklist:
Feeling Feelings
All My Love
Label: MD Dubs (2024)
Mumdance - MD003
