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Words by Ed King / Pic by Aatish Ramchurn / Video by Trapeze Film

On 2^nd June, MUTES release their debut album, No Desire – out in the big wide world thanks to the Birmingham based FOMA Records. And for anyone in the 0121 there’s a launch gig at COW vintage clothing (Digbeth) on the same day: doors open at 7pm, admission free, click here for more info.

Birmingham Review caught up with MUTES‘ front man and founder, James Brown, at Blotto Studios in Digbeth – to check out our full interview click here or on the Youtube link below. Watch out for the solo performance of ‘Blood’ at 26mins 36secs.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

The first release from MUTES as a band, No Desire is a ‘sprawling’ nine track endevour that works ‘through urgent noise-fests, slow-burning drone sequences and seductive siren songs with assured ease.’ Well, yeah, kinda… I wouldn’t want to write a press release for it either.

Kicking off with perhaps the most obvious track, ‘A Burial’, the first word that comes to mind is Nirvana – as in SubPop grunge and not the end game of Saṃsāra. Nothing wrong with sounding like Kurt Cobain or dying your hair blond, I’d even forgive an awkward morning with Courtney Love… just don’t make a habit of it.

Fast, frivolous, only two minutes long, ‘A Burial’ will probably be the soundtrack to some self indulgent teenager as they raid the kitchen draw to make those all important marks for school on Monday. But it’s not the best No Desire has to offer. Neither is ‘Knotting off the Vein’, the second track on the album, but grab something objective and in under four minutes you’ll be onto the more appealing main course.

(James Brown has been curiously, candidly disparaging about No Desire’s opening two tracks – citing the decision to open with ‘A Burial’ was more “to get it out of the way”. They’re not bad, they’re just not the best representation for No Desire as a whole; the album steps up once you’re a safe distance away from the start.)

Rabbit punch percussion and affected vocals launch ‘Primrose’, as the psychedelic spangle guitar that will be your guide trough this LP starts to embed. Raucous, then reserved, this is heading in a better direction. Makes me think of…

Then we have seven minutes of distorted sound fuzz; in a Spritalized haze we float through the middle of the album before a twenty second six string kiss leads us into ‘Dust’. Beginning as a shoegaze affair extraordinaire, ‘Dust’ picks up halfway and throws itself into a Smashing Pumpkins ‘Starla’ supernova with just over 1 ½ minutes to go. For me, this is where No Desire makes its mark. This is also where I stop picking the album apart track by track.

The beauty of No Desire is a dichotomy of extremes. There’s some ‘noise rock’ fluff, some short hit quick fixes, but those handful of minutes become an acceptable background to something much bigger. To something much better. It’s the marriage of the heavier rock (for want of a better expression) and the circling opiate haze that makes this LP memorable.

Nailed in only three studio days (can’t quite get my head around that) the man behind MUTES claims they don’t have ‘a sound’ but I beg to differ – I think they’ve got three. And when they’re all rolled into one, long, ooze… glorious, even without Lou Reed in your veins.

No Desire, to this set of ears, feels like a step up for MUTES – a more crafted ensemble of songs that are best listened to in their entirety, although the bottom’s not going to fall out if you began from track three.

An album, all the way through, who has the time?!?!?!? Don’t worry, it’s only 9 tracks long. The above word count is 626. The interview below is about 20mins long and No Desire will take you under three quarters of an hour from start to finish. YOU MUST CONSUME EVERYTHING WE CREATE.

But there’s an easier way to get your chattering teeth into this new body of work from MUTES, just listen to the title track first. Or you could always get to the MUTES Album launch gig at COW and see it first hand – either way the clue’s in the title.

MUTES’ front man & founder, James Brown, talks to Ed King for Birmingham Review @ Blotto Studios 01.06.17 – watch out for the solo performance of ‘Blood’ at 26mins 36secs

‘A Burial’ – MUTES (from their debut album, No Desire)

MUTES debut album, No Desire, is out on general release from 2^nd June – with a launch event at COW vintage clothing in Digbeth, click here for more info.

For more from Mutes, visit www.mutesuk.bandcamp.com

For more from FOMA, visit www.wearefoma.bigcartel.com

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For more on Blotto Studios, visit www.facebook.com/BlottoStudios

For more on COW Birmingham, visit www.wearecow.com/contacts/#birmingham

Ed’s note… On Saturday 4^th March, local label FOMA threw a party – a showcase of the Harmless Untruths… from some of their roster and beyond.

Headlining were Hoopla Blue, the ‘ridiculously gifted’ Birmingham band who will be opening for The Flaming Lips in August alongside Amber Run. Hoopla Blue have been on the tip of Rob Hadley’s tongue for many months now (Birmingham Review’s Head of Photography) and this was a good opportunity to see them in a label setting.

Plus we got to revisit Mutes, who we haven’t seen with a professional focus since the All Years Leaving Festival in 2015. Grain Death (…i’m thinking Witness?) and Matters (part Them Wolves, part Mayors of Toronto) were relatively new to us, although the latter had popped on our radar after seeing them at the third YR Welcome festival.

So off we went, on the rum hunt for hidden delights and Harmless Untruths… from FOMA. Aatish Ramchurn was the lone scout we sent on reconnaissance to the back streets of Digbeth, tracking down for Blotto Studio and some people making noise. His brief: ‘Write it from a photographer’s point of view’. Luckily he made it in, out and even through such an oxymoron instruction.

Check out his words and pics for THE GALLERY below, or click on the relevant links for the Full Flick of Pics.

Words & pics by Aatish Ramchurn

Sometimes the best experiences can come from venturing into the unknown, and this gig was definitely one of those times. Taking place at Blotto Studio in Digbeth, FOMA held a showcase for the bands on their label, with Hoopla Blue and Mutes.

Until this day I had no idea that a rehearsal space like Blotto Studio even existed. Trying to find it on Google street view was initially a bit confusing, as it appeared to point at what looked like a shed or a garage with no signage. I figured, whatever. Turn up, park outside, go to the ‘shed’ and see what happens.

I ring the doorbell. A guy opens the door and for some reason I’m thinking, ‘do I need a password to come in?’. I say “I’m from Birmingham Review… as a photographer”. A woman’s voice from round the corner says, “…Birmingham Review? Yeah, let him in. He’s on the list”

The guy advises me that I should still keep my coat when I go into the main room, and he was so right about that. It was just as cold as it was outside and I doubt many in there had taken their jacket off.

The venue itself was a warehouse type of place with a small raised stage at front – nicely lit up with warm tone of red, taking away the cold sensation. The crowd themselves were mainly young, hip and liberal, bar the odd older person. A nice and welcoming bunch.

First band on were Matters. An instrumental trio of guitar, synth, drums, and programming, with each track lasting about six minutes or so. Their sound did seem to set an overall tone that matched the atmosphere of Blotto – dark, underground, and yet pleasing at the same time. I was having some difficulty getting a good photo of one the band members due to her face being largely obscured by her Moog set up and having the main speaker stood next to her. Probably a rare instance where it was just easier getting a shot of the drummer, as I was able to get shots from the side of the stage.

Not knowing much about the bands that were playing that night, I thought Matters were setting the tone for what was about to come. Then Grain Death come on with the standard four guys, guitars, bass, and drums set up. Now I’m realising this is going to be a night of very different acts. Grain Death brought their indie noise pop sound to the stage with a lot of confidence, even after an awkward soundcheck.

Mutes, the first of FOMA’s acts, played with a lot energy – their fast paced, punk infused electric sound with the antics of their frontman providing some great images to capture. At this point, I realised I’ve taken way too many images – a freedom and problem with having too much free reign when shooting at small venues. So with Hoopla Blue, I decide to impose the three song rule on myself.

Overall, FOMA’s Harmless Untruths of… showcase was a lot of fun – reminiscent of hanging out at a squat party where everyone is chilled. And whilst the night did go on until late (as a squat party can do) after Hoopla Blue played I called it a night.

Harmless Untruths of… Hoopla Blue @ Blotto Studio 04.03.17 / Aatish Ramchurn