Mitchell Museum
We Lost 1st Prize


4.0
excellent

Review

by scotish USER (19 Reviews)
February 27th, 2010 | 10 replies


Release Date: 2010 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Scotland's answer to 'Animal Collective' - now with added fun.

The Scottish indie scene has produced some huge breakthrough acts as of late. The success of Frightened Rabbit naturally springs to mind, as does Biffy Clyro hitting the mainstream and the rise of Glasvegas (though less said about that the better). However, this is only the deceptively small tip of a surprisingly large iceberg – their Caledonian contemporaries are numerous indeed. Now that I’ve listened to ‘Mitchell Museum’, I’m astonished that they haven’t pulled away from the pack already; not only because their electronica sound is a raspberry twist in a vanilla arena of much more traditional groups, but because they’re having about twice as much fun as everyone else is. ‘We Lost 1st Prize’ is a high-speed hoedown unheard of among the usually sombre efforts of Scotland’s own.

Within seconds – seconds – toes are a-tappin’ and mouths are a-grinnin’ as a freefall of hyper-rhythmic cymbals clash with sound machines and other assorted electronic nonsense, bleeping and whirling with gleeful abandon amid a madness of “Whoo’s” and “La-la-la-la’s” and other singalong nothings. It’s beyond catchy - ‘Take the Tongue Out’ is like a hyperactive child careering around the space between your ears, and he threatens never to go to sleep again unless you give him more sugar. The EP’s sound is akin to that of a particular ‘Collective deciding not to take themselves too seriously. A straight comparison can’t be made though. ‘Mitchell Museum’ differentiate themselves with their stray acoustics, an adhesive sticking together synths with endorphins; and while this affair has a psychedelic air about it too, no point is made of it. That is, only what comes with the fulfilment of their own compulsions to create something beguilingly fun, itself borne of the band's own keen sense of exuberance. What's more, they are more evidently home grown than their would-be counterparts. The sound is effortless and organic. Avoiding the additives and preservatives of post-production polish keeps this effect true – an effect integral to the bands charisma. There is a strong suggestion that they found some keyboards and mixing desks at the end of a rainbow, put their fingers to the buttons to find that they could play, and then simply made merry.

But for its slickness in ease of invention and enjoyment (a quality betrayed only once by the dialup internet noises that open ‘In The Bloodwind’ and reek of gimmick), it remains irresistibly charming, yet it doesn't overpower the listener. Much of this has to do with how endearing a record this is. Appeal is the lifeblood that courses through these tracks. ‘Arthur Loves The Shadows’ is a fusion of the acoustic and the electronic in a distorted, swaying shanty; ‘No. 3 (Daemonstration Version)’ is a delicious juxtaposition between a single guitar accompaniment, and blares of warped, distorted horns; and “Extra Life” is a triumphant march along a Punch-and-Judy, merry-go-round seafront promenade, candyfloss stand and all. ‘We Lost 1st Prize’ is not just another reason to get excited about the prospects of Scotland’s home-grown talent, because the appeal of this will extend far beyond our borders. The capers of ‘Mitchell Museum’ are enough to put a smile on anyone’s face.

’We Lost 1st Prize’ is available for free download at http://mitchellmuseum.bandcamp.com/album/we-lost-1st-prize and is streaming in its entirety at http://www.myspace.com/mitchellmuseum



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Comments:Add a Comment 
scotish
February 27th 2010


836 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

sputnik, you're gonna love this

robin
February 28th 2010


4595 Comments


chu huh. i like.

Skimaskcheck
February 28th 2010


2364 Comments


aww yeah, Bandcamp rules, i'll get this soon, thanks for the rec!

GnarlyShillelagh
March 1st 2010


6385 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

It's free, so why not?



I'll report back after I give it a listen or two



"itself borne of the bands"



Should be an apostrophe there.



"Than thier"



Switch the e and i



"put theirs"



No s.



Might wanna proofread this a bit. Regardless, I pos'd.

GnarlyShillelagh
March 1st 2010


6385 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

It's a decent album. I'm not a huge fan, but it's by no means a bad EP. They definitely seem like they could be a great band capable of making a great album, but for me, this isn't it.

scotish
March 1st 2010


836 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thanks for those, missed them even after a few proofs : /

Sagebrush
March 3rd 2010


3 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I enjoyed your review, even if some are being somewhat pedantic about your proof reading! It gives a nice flavour of this ep.

To the ep itself, it should be remembered that this is a free give away of some of the stuff MM had on their myspace, and not put together with any real thought of it being a commercial compilation. It is a of taster of what is to come and what to expect. It achieves that admirably.

My take on the tracks?

I have to say, I love your description of ""take the tongue out". I hadn't thought of it in that way, but it certainly is like an exuberant child

In fact their boundless enthusiasm and enjoyment is completely infectious throughout all that they do.

Although I do think that while comparisons are made with Animal Collective,I feel that is too easy and simplistic a label to put on them. In fact, I think there are a whole variety of influences at work. The Beach Boys, The Beatles later stuff, Grandaddy, Flaming Lips are some others that come to mind.

All in All, I am REALLY looking forward to the forthcoming ALbum, "Peters Port Memorial Service" Not sure when it will be out, but I can hardly wait!



scotish
March 3rd 2010


836 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

yay for productive feedback! good to see people are taking an interest, this album wasn't even in the database a few days ago. where you from sage? I'm curious as to if this is getting much attention outside of Scotland

Sagebrush
March 9th 2010


3 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Hi...Sorry to disappoint, but I am Scots. So, I am not an interested party from elsewhere in the world.

I am just lucky enough to have cottoned on to these guys earlier than most.



I would be very surprised indeed if they don't make the bigger stage fairly soon.

Then I can say they are not a secret that is being well kept.



I see from their website that they are doing a session for Marc Riley on 6Music on the 23rd of March. I think I will be tuning into that to see if they play anything from their new album.

Plus support 6Music of course!

scotish
March 10th 2010


836 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

evreeee single time ya come arouuuuuuund

allya try and do is get me dowwwwwwwwn!



oh man more people need to hear this, it's gloriously fun



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