Smilewound

Personnel: Gyda Valtysdóttir (cello); Olöf Arnalds, Kylie Minogue, Sigrídur Thorlacius (vocals); Högni Egilsson (violin, piano); Laufey Jensdóttir, Gudbjörg Hlín Gudmundsdóttir (violin); Anna Hugadóttir (viola).
Recording information: Estonia.
Múm defined their approach -- twinkling electronics, wispy vocals, acoustic instrumentation here and there -- so clearly on their first few albums that the rest of the collective's work often seemed caught between staying in place and branching out. They do a little of each on Smilewound, which marks the return of founding member Gyda Valtysdóttir, one half of the twin vocalists who helped craft Múm's signature sound. Adding her to the fold again allows the group to revisit the pastoral folktronica of yore, most potently on "Slow Down," a half-speed chase so delicate it sounds in danger of floating away before it can reach listeners' ears. Meanwhile, Hildur Gudnadóttir -- who joined the band with 2007's Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy -- represents the more dynamic, experimental approach of the collective's later work on standouts like the sprightly 8-bit synth-driven workout "When Girls Collide" or the drum'n'bass-tinged "The Colorful Stabwound." Thematically, Múm return to contrasting innocence and danger: "Underwater Snow" pits cozily twinkling pianos against rumbling beats in a way that suggests breaking a snowglobe, while "Candlestick" is Smilewound's most exciting song and one of their most potent mixes of sweetness and violence yet. Over brisk synth-pop, Gudnadóttir flirts by threatening to smash her beloved with the titular blunt object before deciding "I kind of like your face the way it is." It's even catchier than "Whistle," the group's collaboration with pop queen Kylie Minogue, which closes the album with a pretty slice of their signature sound. ~ Heather Phares