Mummies And Madmen - Mummies and Madmen Grow Dark In The Sun

Although this is not a Van Gogh that was pilfered long ago and recently unearthed in a storage unit by local police on an anonymous tip, however it is an important document in the rich history of experimental music. Mummies And Madmen was the collaboration of Bob Oliver (Slob Tapes), Cryptic Z Mostman and Alan Rider (Adventures In Reality, Stress, Dance Naked, Senestra etc). Although, I do not know much about Bob Oliver's Slob Tapes or Cryptic Z Mostmen (Colin), I can speak to Alan Rider's Adventures In Reality as we have covered Adventures In Reality extensively with Alan's books spinning tales of the underground fanzine culture . Alan's published works include, Adventures In Reality covering his own fanzine as well as Tales From The Ghost Town that shed light on other fanzines from the late 70's to the early 80 are both fascinating documents told from one of the most active writers at the time within the DIY fanzine/cassette culture out of the Coventry area. 


To understand where we are today it is important to understand the origins which would take a much smarter person than I to tell such a story. Imagine you're at a house party amongst friends, none of which share your musical taste. Everyone is enjoying the current popular music having some drinks and then some lunatic (you) decides to play Throbbing Gristle's "Hamburger Lady" followed by "Very Friendly". Imagine the reaction. Imagine the horrified faces. Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, SPK, Test Department, Muslimgauze and Clock DVA were some of the leading pioneers in this DIY culture of sampling and tape looping  set to a litany of subversive themes and sounds that pushed the boundaries each and every time. The style certainly did not appeal to everyone, but there was a fan base that grew and eventually found a cult following. These artists as well as others, spawned thousands of other artists to form collectives, groups and bands to perpetuate the DIY experimental culture.


In August of 1983, long time veterans of the DIY scene Bob Oliver, Colin Cryptic Z. Mostman and Alan Rider collaborated to record one track under the moniker Mummies And Madmen. It was supposed to be just one track, yet 14 months later the group returned to record their second track "Red Front" that was submerged in the creative zeitgeist of the late 70's and early 80's where artists experimented with new styles and had no fear of the destination. It was a landscape oozing with creativity breaking the barriers of what is popular and acceptable. A wall of shrieking reverb bathed in synthesizer feedback and tortured guitars sent a big middle to current mood of the time. The vocals are spoken not sung and feel slightly distorted with the deliberate dissonance in the track's progression. Mummies And Madmen's delivery evokes a sense of uneasiness and anticipation. "Mummies And Madmen Grow Dark In the Sun" is very rhythmic with laced with bird songs, the buzzing of flies yielding a more serene sense yet that constant feedback and rhythmic pulsing warn us that darker times are approaching. Eventually the birds vanish and the once serene landscape slowly burns away into a darker and more sinister realm.


Mar 19 2024