Nothing but the finest — New Orleans rockers Mute Math will work only in the scrappiest-looking studios they can find
Mute Math add genres subtract boundaries
Rock music is changing for the better. While many standard relatively boring rock acts continue to grace mainstream radio and Future Shop racks an influx of interesting genre-bridging bands has burgeoned alongside mixing electronic blips and bleeps countrified twang and all things blues into the usual chord-heavy brew. Despite what is thrown on the top of the pile thematically by this experimentation the substance lodged in the middle remains as bands like The White Stripes and Serena Maneesh assert the power of rock ’n’ roll before exploring the peaks and valleys contained in their mess of metal blues and country. Rock ’n’ roll still trumps but in a more exploratory way as if before pounding incessantly on the drums on display in the showroom these bands stopped to fiddle with the sounds entrenched in the drum machine.
Mute Math an impressively successful quartet from New Orleans is another one of the good guys. Early last year the band readied their debut long-player Typical and booked a two-month tour criss-crossing neighbouring states in order to promote their new baby. Through cerebral live performances an interesting incorporation of outside influences and a fervent fanbase two months turned into five. The modest indie release became a highly touted major as Warner scooped up the band.
Typical began as a self-titled EP consisting of songs dating back to 2001 when the band began performing at home. “We had originally put this record out independently in early 2006 and had a two-month tour booked” explains keyboardist and vocalist Paul Meaney. “In the middle of the tour everything expanded as — thankfully — people kept showing up to see us play and we were able to keep introducing the music to more and more people. When Warner Brothers decided to release it properly in the fall of that year we became a bit more visible but just enough to keep the show on the road.”
Despite Meaney’s humble expectations regarding the release of Typical the press and music community have embraced this expansive set of rock ditties prompting worldwide touring and impressive stateside sales for a debut release. Typical is typical in some ways combining singalong choruses and booming vocals that evoke a standard rock ’n’ roll ethos. Perplexing drum machines odd electronic switches and eccentric harmonic subtleties permeate each song though providing just as many moments to sit and ponder as ones to get up and dance. There are sparse ethereal stretches followed by chaotic note-heavy choruses offering sounds that borrow as much from Bjork as OKGo.
“Our concern was more about the feeling of the record” says Meaney. “We kept working on songs until something compelling grabbed us and then we knew we had a song. There’s something subconscious that happens when you write songs that I think is extremely important.”
The band’s New Orleans locale also provided plenty of inspiration. “There is a very original vibe in the air of that city as a result of some unlikely culture clashes” Meaney adds. “It’s elegant yet raunchy. The people can be the most charming or rude. The phrase ‘only in New Orleans’ precedes a lot of unbelievable statements. Like our music New Orleans is definitely difficult to peg.”
Mute Math seem to be permanently on tour and have traversed much of the globe this year promoting Typical. The experience has helped them hone one of the better live rock shows around. “I promise that with us you get a shot in the arm a kick in the pants and a definitive ringing in the ears” says Meaney. “Oh and a rock show.”
