- Release date:
- July 15, 2008
- Artist/Band name:
- Mugison
- Record label:
- Ipecac
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.mugison.com/
Backstory: Iceland’s Mugison (Örn Elias Guðmunsson) is a leftfield, experimental artist signed to Ipecac, the Los Angeles-based label founded by Faith No More lead singer Mike Patton that also features groups like the Melvins and the Kids of Widney High. After composing two albums and two movie soundtracks with little more than a guitar and a laptop, “Mugiboogie” finds Mugison jettisoning the computer in favor of a live band.
Why you should care: How many other artists can you name who could earnestly tribute both a Beatle (“George Harrison”) and a religious figure (“Jesus is a Good Name to Moan”) in the same album?
Verdict: Mugison strikes a good balance between the restrained and the unleashed, such as when the tranquil, chilled-out “Deep Breathing” is immediately followed by “I’m Alright,” which sounds like Norwegian death metal with a Broadway piano background. Most deliciously, sometimes it’s not immediately clear which he’s going for, as on shuffly soul offering “The Animal,” which masks a sharp critique of the American government under a happy beat. Fans of Mugison’s earlier work might miss the overt electronic bleeps and quirks, which make only fleeting appearances here, though the new approach gives him a more memorable sound overall.
X-Factor: If you go to the trouble of purchasing a physical copy of “Mugiboogie,” you’ll get a special treat: the CD features handmade artwork and packaging assembled by Mugison and friends from his small Icelandic village.
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