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

Descubriendo A Mr. Mime - ...Y Ya No Me Quedan Dientes Por Arrancarme

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

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 10 Jan 2013

Tracklist: 

1. Constanza

2. Annapurna

3. Guindilla

4. 3yre

5. Astillas

6. La Forma Es El Vacio

7. El Vacio Es La Forma

8. Le Temps Détruit Tout

Today's been great, as I've been relaxing and enjoying plenty of music. This review will be the final one for today and it's one that I've been really excited about doing. It's the second in my retrospective series focusing on the catalogue of Canadian label Zegema Beach Records and it's about a record that I've had in my collection for sometime now, thanks to Dog Knights Productions here in the UK. I first discovered Spanish screamo band Descubriendo A Mr. Mime thanks to a split 7" (also featuring Silencio, Ahora, Silencio, that was released by DK Productions in 2011). I snapped this single-sided LP up when it came out in 2013 and still spin it regularly. It was ZBR's second release as a label and was limited to 249 copies (if Discogs is to be believed). As with my previous review in this series featuring Amber, Descubriendo A Mr. Mime is no longer an active band. Let this be a celebration!

This single-sided LP is a thing of beauty. From the cover art to the ultra-clear vinyl, which features a screen-printed bird along with other motifs (my copy /83), it was my introduction to the artistry that was put into many of the screamo releases that I went onto buy and cherish in the years following. Descubriendo A Mr. Mime managed to fit eight quick-fire songs onto one side of wax and in turn provided something truly brilliant. LP opener Constanza is filled with atmosphere straight from the get go. The opening melody and feedback give way technical screamo that is truly engaging. The song is mid-paced for its majority and doesn’t descend into chaotic territory, with the band preferring a measured approach. Annapurna is where they turn up the urgency and tempo. It’s still off-kilter and technical in places yet at times, musically at least, it reminds me of early era AFI (please feel free to tell my how wrong I am here). 

The sound is so clear on the record and Guindilla stands out thanks to it’s simplicity and slightly more stripped back approach. It’s over all too quickly but what follows banishes any such thoughts. 3yre is fast and very much bass-heavy, with the inclusion of cinematic melody that’s become synonymous with European hardcore/screamo bands in recent years. Guiding you passed the record’s midway point, Astillas features the guest vocals of Polee from the band Rio Bravo (RIP). Immediately, there’s a subtly more caustic approach to the vocals, while the music retains a level of melody and restraint that fits so well. As I mentioned above, this gets a lot of spins from me but actually sitting down and writing about it brings a new perspective (without sounding pretentious).

The two-parter that begins with La Forma Es El Vacio contains a whispered intro, which may be  a sample but I’m unsure, and sees a shift in sound with regimental percussion and a threat of implosion. That implosion occurs as the layers of instrumentation and harsh screams build. It’s one of those songs that exaggerates the feeling of anticipation and elation (in the best possible way). El Vacio Es La Forma follows it with a stop/start structure that’s at odds with it’s predecessor. It is, however; a well structured and delivered song that relies on different passages to both diffuse and build excitement as the record nears it’s close. Final song La Temps Detruit Tout uses up the final three-or-so-minutes of the format to great effect, sealing in the quality of Descubriendo A Mr. Mime and their music. Dramatic and enticing in every way, it’s a record that undoubtedly leaves you craving more…

You can stream and purchase a digital copy of the record directly from Descubriendo A Mr. Mime below:-

Vinyl copies are long since sold out from all three labels. There is a copy available on Discogs (should you be unable to find one elsewhere). 

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

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

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

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

Next in the series will be Via Fondo.