That’s right, Adam Pierce is about to release his seventh studio album as Mice Parade and it’s a self-titled one. 2004’s Obrigado Saudade was a revelation to me, organic, spacious, serene and full of purpose, a mix of folk sensibilities and electronics too accomplished to be labelled as folktronica. The follow-up Bem-Vinda Vontade hinted at more collaboration, a bigger scope and featured more vocals by Pierce himself.
With Mice Parade, Pierce’s voice is utilised in a more traditional way accompanying 7 of the 9 tracks. The result is that the willful experimental edge of the instrumentation is shorned and the songs become more vocal-driven, louder and feel more urgent. It’s not necessarily a bad thing however. Pierce’s droll flat tone can distract from the range occupied by the instrumentation a bit but what lifts the album above minor annoyances is the excellent production, filling each note and with some great layered clattering percussion.
Kristin Anna Valtysdottir (her who was in Múm, also toured with Mice parade from 2003 – 2006 ) reprises her vocal duties from Obrigado on “Double Dolphins on the Nickel” moving from Icelandic to English verse. Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab) appears on “Tales of Las Negras”, one of the albums highlights. While it never scales the heights of Obrigado there’s plenty of quality here to indulge yourself in.
MP3s
Mice Parade – Tale of Las Negras (from Mice Parade 2007)
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Mice_Parade_-_Tales_of_Las_Negras.mp3]Mice Parade – Out of the Freedom World (from Obrigado Saudade, 2004)
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/mice_parade–out_of_the_freedom_world.mp3]
Mice Parade – Mystery Brethren vironment (Jim O’ Rourke remix) (from Collaborations single 2000)
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Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
The first album of his I got was Mokoondi, and have been a fan ever since. Obrigado Saudade is amazing, definitely my favourite.
Hope you’re well. 🙂
The first album of his I got was Mokoondi, and have been a fan ever since. Obrigado Saudade is amazing, definitely my favourite.
Hope you’re well. 🙂
Hey Sinéad,
How’s things?
Still haven’t got Mokoondi, but I’d be happy with only Obrigado Saudade TBH 🙂
Hey Sinéad,
How’s things?
Still haven’t got Mokoondi, but I’d be happy with only Obrigado Saudade TBH 🙂
I’m good boss, counting the days. Missing going to gigs. 🙁
I’m good boss, counting the days. Missing going to gigs. 🙁
I’ve only ever heard Mokoondi and have to say played it fairly constantly when I got it yars ago and it still gets the odd spin. It was heavy on the Chinese harp, which is affecting for a while. I really like Tale of Las Negras, so I think I’ll have to get this self titled jobby.
Hope you’re well Sinéad and you’re not too tired all the time. Thanks Niall for putting this up. Nice one.
I’ve only ever heard Mokoondi and have to say played it fairly constantly when I got it yars ago and it still gets the odd spin. It was heavy on the Chinese harp, which is affecting for a while. I really like Tale of Las Negras, so I think I’ll have to get this self titled jobby.
Hope you’re well Sinéad and you’re not too tired all the time. Thanks Niall for putting this up. Nice one.
This is really great stuff man. Battles + Tapes or Ultra Milkmaids. Thanks for that Niallers!
This is really great stuff man. Battles + Tapes or Ultra Milkmaids. Thanks for that Niallers!
I really like Mice Parade, I’ve only heard two of Adam’s albums though, Bem-Vinda Vontade and the self-titled. Anyone know where I can download Obrigado Saudade?
I really like Mice Parade, I’ve only heard two of Adam’s albums though, Bem-Vinda Vontade and the self-titled. Anyone know where I can download Obrigado Saudade?