mUmbo – Fringe Benefits (2023)
If you are completely oblivious to blues meets alternative and folk-rock trio mUmbo, where have you been? Initially formed by Doug MacGowan (guitar, bass and banjo) and Emma Semple (vocals, viola and violin) in 2021, early mUmbo already presented a diverse sonic landscape; add Antonio Dale (drums and percussion) in 2022 and you have an even greater exploration of musical possibilities. The Other Side Reviews have followed the trio closely taking a gander and writing our thoughts about their songs. From our interview with mUmbo discussing I Fly With Swallows to reviews of ‘Swing My Hip’ and ‘Sky Is Blue’, the international threesome is ever present with their inimitable sound. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Fringe Benefits’.
On the heels of their well-received single ‘Sky Is Blue’, ‘Fringe Benefits’ oozes passionate obscurity in an eclectic melody. Retaining a sense of blues-inspired sensuality in ‘Fringe Benefits’, Semple’s soul-stirring vocals emerge from the bold sonic tapestry. Sweeping percussion aligns with blues-rock guitars offering a soothing, gentle and languid tone. Yet, while a calm laidback sensation is felt throughout the song, MacGowan drips daring, powerful and bold guitars into the melody illuminating a slight distortion in the arrangement. It is this distortion that somehow builds on the theme of the single – holding onto hope and freedom in a despairing reality.
“The song, ostensibly, is about the attempt to hold onto hope and personal freedom within a society that is increasingly repressive. It alludes to the very real hardships that many people are facing in the UK at the moment. Through social media we live in a world of instant gratification and quick fixes; the reality for us all, of course, is quite different.” – mUmbo on ‘Fringe Benefits’
Sincere, sentimental, honest and complex, mUmbo connects with audiences on a more personal level in their single ‘Fringe Benefits’.
For more from mUmbo, check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
