image

I didn't realize until some months ago that I had a problem getting into a comfortable position when I write. As I'm writing this, I can feel pain building in one of my wrists to the point where I have to shake it off every few minutes. Other times when I lay on my belly, one of my legs goes numb and when I lay on my side, my supporting arm does the same.

Whatever the fuck is wrong with me, I don't know. Obviously it's got something to do with nerve damage. In a way, I'm like the elephant man in that I can't do normal things like everyone else (or rather a series of them). But I can imagine what it's like and that sensation looms over me like something out of It Follows.

How annoying is it for you, that I'm give you the scenic route to try to help convey the feeling of what it might be like to experience more than just a taste of this awesome Finnish band called Mumrunner?

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/37586497" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

Starting with the track Zit -- which was practically everyone's introduction to this Finnish Phenomena -- that gliding hook in the middle of the track is what catches your ear. Every part of that track expresses something that's always out of reach that I can almost sense as something familiar.

The following track Rut at least gives me a little bit of punk for comfort and then that signature move of raising the melodic bar to new heights gives me goosebumps, something that I too -- like normal people -- can experience.

[bandcamp width=350 height=621 album=3380581939 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Oh yeah, about four years ago (I can't believe it's been that long) I tripped and fell wrong on my right hand to where the pinky joint either dislocated or cracked or something, where my pinky is now fused in this constant curl, meaning I can't splay my finger out with the others like I would like to.

Of course, I never got the pinky fixed and have for the most part, gotten over the anxiety of not being able to stretch my finger (kind of thinking about it right now) out. Just the other day however, I started getting real anxious about it and had to press my palms against a solid surface to feel something else; distracting my senses.

Which is how it's been over the past several months since Mumrunner had been posting only a few singles such as Bond and End keeping me between trying to remain calm and accept what's there and the building anticipation of a new release. Which, by the way guys, you could just imagine how especially worked up I got when a Finnish music site had a snap shot or embedded SoundCloud player of this EP already, which was set to private. I nearly lost ALL of my shit!

I mean, just listen to the opening track where it's a perfect set up for Bond to tear it up. When Bond finally happens, new listeners can only acknowledge the greatness of Mumrunner.

It wasn't enough for me, I had to figure out just what lies beneath so I able to get a hold of a even level contributor to the shoegaze cause, Sauli Hämäläinen.

Zoe Dune: So tell me a bit about how mumrunner got started? A bunch of friends who were just fucking around and a band came out of it?

Sauli Hämäläinen: All started about a bit more than a year ago. I had a bunch of song ideas which didn't fit well for my other band and I wanted to gather a group of nice people around those songs. We started out first as a trio but a couple of months later, Kati joined in bass and drummer changed also and Juuso stepped in. That's pretty much it.

Dune: Now what's your other band?

Hämäläinen: My other band is called Revival Hymns . It's more post rockish, slow core.

Dune: That's pretty straightforward and uncomplicated! From the few tracks that you have online, the collaboration couldn't have been better, or you're super methodical about what you want Mumrunner to represent.

I'm actually listening to your track Soliti and notice a definite difference between your earlier stuff where it seems to put those songs in a standard shoegaze format. Your melodic strength really shows.

Hämäläinen: Actually that's what you get when you put three guys and a gal into a same soup where someone are more into progressive & psychedelic metal, some's more indie pop dude, some oldschool punk etc. Can't get a standard shoegaze with that recipe.

Dune: Very true and with that mix, no one would allow the sound to get saturated with delays. You guys are putting them to use like they're supposed to.

Hämäläinen: That new track is called 'Bond' btw, Soliti is a label.

Dune: Ah yes. I see that now, lol. What can you tell us about the Finland social music scene, for those of use in Texas who can't wrap our heads around it?

Hämäläinen: This is so small country that if the people who's doing things at music biz don't like your stuff, you can keep on playing your songs mainly at your rehearsal room. But luckily here's a lot of great bands and therefore a lot is happening around. Does it make any sense?

Dune: Wait, you mean to tell me that a phenomenal band such as Mumrunner; that the music business mobsters there, don't have an ear for it?

Hämäläinen: As we are the best band from Finland, those issues won't bother us. Just having the consolation for those bands who sucks more than we do.

Dune: lol. A bold statement and one I can't disagree with! What kind of themes do you touch upon with Mumrunner? Would you say you have a niche or something you generally like to revisit? Emotionally charged stuff!

Hämäläinen: Not really. just the things what our singer Jukka just happens to deal with in his tiny head, like guns, Americans.

Dune: Guns and Americans... Ameriguns, right? What about anger? One of the biggest things I have is... some anger issues, because I'm in some agreement with Jukka in that regard, being in Texas and all. Does anger have a place with Mumrunner's sound?

Hämäläinen: Yes it does have a place in our sound. I don't know can it be heard in our music but it definitely can be seen as a look on our faces when we play live.

The last of the band's milk rations.
The last of the band's milk rations.

Dune: So you have a dark side, which is what I hear in tone. I'm all about it, man. I can't imagine what kind of tensions there are in Finland, right? Voice of the youth? Demands for change?

Hämäläinen: People can't see sun in 6 months, income gaps are growing, class war is at the door, we fail time after time at soccer wm tryouts. maybe those are the main reasons.

Dune: I should say so! No sun for 6 months would do it and everything else is a total beatdown, wow! How about your writing process? Obviously everyone is pretty collaborative?

Hämäläinen: I write the songs, Jukka does the lyrics, and the band make it sound like a diamond.

Dune: So what does the future hold for Mumrunner? Word around the campfire is you have a new release?

Hämäläinen: We'll release our debut EP in May. There will be 5 songs and one extra song for a vinyl version on it. We'll play shows here in Finland as much as possible and hopefully soon around the Europe too.

Dune: Yes, and maybe start putting in your "pitch" for sxsw 2016, right? Then we can have you here!?

Hämäläinen: We'll do that

Dune: I'll be looking forward to that release! Got any local recommendations?

Hämäläinen: Kairon; Irse is the second best Finnish band. Check them out.

Dune: Thanks Sauli.

Hämäläinen: Great. Was super nice to chat!

I think Sauli and I are kind of at the same place in our discomfort? Maybe that's the energy behind that sound? Imagine that all four of them have harnessed that energy and use it to build this unique aural image?

But at last I am relieved that the Full Blossom-EP is finally out as it's a broader exhibit of what they are with a few new details which make them all, as a band, as connected to their sound as that which locks-in any band with success. On the other hand it's also made me even more anxious to expect a larger piece of work, which I'll be passively waiting to happen, until I (almost) lose my shit again.

The link has been copied!