Descubriendo A Mr. Mime - F

Labels: Dog Knights Productions/Saltamarges/Walking Is Still Honest Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 15 Jan 2018

Tracklist:

1. /1.4

2. /2

3. /2.8

4. /4

5. /5.6

6. /8

7. /16

Spanish screamo band Descubriendo A Mr. Mime called it a day in late 2018, yet they left their own legacy behind. I first came across them after I purchased their split 7" with ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! from Dog Knights Productions. Following their single-sided (and gloriously screen-printed) LP ...Y Ya No Me Queden Dientes For Arrancarme and their second split 7" with Hurricade, they released their final LP called F (they also released a demo and some singles early on too). It was released in January of 2018 via Dog Knights Productions (UK/EUR), as well as Saltamarges (ESP), Walking Is Still Honest Records (GER/ESP) and Zegema Beach Records (CAN/USA). 

It’s amazing how a band’s body of work, no matter how big or small, can have an impact on your listening habits. Discovering Descubriendo A Mr. Mime via a split 7” opened my ears up to so much European screamo and led me to pick up all of their physical releases (that I know of anyway). Knowing that this one was their last was bittersweet. Sweet because it contains such great music and bitter because it meant the end of the band. With punctuation and numbers, DMM departed but not without leaving us with some of the most melodic, emotional screamo of the time.

LP opener ‘/1.4’ greets you and draws you into the record with mid-paced, bright arms wide open. The brightness coming from the melody of the guitars, before the spoken-word sample provides a sinister intro to the band’s screamo. Ending with the full band playing in unison and vocalists screamo so crisply, flowing straight into ‘/2’, where things get more intense. The screams grow harsher here, even if the instrumentation doesn’t necessarily do the same. The song still retains the melodic tones that make DMM’s music so dramatic, while hardcore builds a stronger presence.

The way all songs flow into one another is perfect, and while they are on the longer side, there’s no meandering going on. ‘/2.8’ shows a greater caustic approach from DMM, albeit one that’s short-lived and replaced by layered, dreamy musicianship and sensitive percussion. Being a good songwriter (or in this case, songwriters) is one thing but being able to deliver said song with the composure needed is hard. Delivery is everything here and it’s spot on.

I mentioned the caustic elements of the music on F above and in some ways it reminds of some of the Asian bands that are making waves right now, including Blue Friend, Piri Reis and Asunojokei (amongst many others). The reason I draw reference to that scene is because ‘/4’ reminds me of it due to the sheer intensity of the vocals. ‘/5.6’ is such a cathartic song, with a more introspective delivery alongside the dual-high/low pitched screams. There’s also more technicality going on in terms of time signatures and guitar work. It’s really embracing and almost empowering to listen to.

Penultimate song ‘/8’ sounds like the ultimate crescendo with it’s heart-on-your-sleeve screaming. Even though this is not the end of the album, it leaves an indelible mark of you both emotionally and musically. Never throughout the record has it ever felt like DMM were phoning it in or resting on their laurels. As a stand alone release, this album hits so hard and feels so perfect.

Closing with their longest song on F, ‘/16’ doesn’t go off on any weird tangents or deviate from what DMM set out to do. Instead it builds on their already impressive sound and reputation. It’s the best way to end the album as it follows the theme with which it opened. Majestically and affectionately portraying a band reaching maturity before fading too soon. Descubriendo A Mr. Mime reminds us that music is life affirming, transformational and most importantly, what we make of it.

You can stream and purchase the album as a name-your-price download from DMM below:-

Descubriendo A Mr. Mime - https://www.facebook.com/descubriendoamrmime

Physical copies are sold out.

Dog Knights Productions - https://www.facebook.com/dogknights

Saltamarges - https://www.facebook.com/saltamarges

Walking Is Still Honest - https://www.facebook.com/walkingisstillhonestrecords

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords