Mitchell Museum
We Lost 1st Prize

Release Date: 2010 | Tracklist

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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4 excellent

Rank: #0 for 2010