duggup

The Mummers from Brighton in England are an interesting concoction of heavily orchestrated arrangements pitted against the whimsical voice of Raissa Khan-Panni. The musicianship is over the top with theatricality and the vocals add a dimension that takes her music from the mundane to become flights of fancy.

The Mummers musicians are: Jote Osahn – violin, Tessa Gilles – violin, Joe Giddey – cello, Matt Gray – double bass, Laura Ritchie – cello, Ashley Slater – trombone, Lindsey Oliver – double bass, Loz Thomas – drums, Paul Sandrone – guitars & programming, Mark Horwood – keys & orchestral arrangements, Rice – vocals & keys, Jim Carmichael – drums, Ellie Wyatt – violin, Mike Simmonds – violin, Sam Glasson – drums, Ben Simmonds – french horn, Charlotte Glasson – flute, Rob Lewis – cello, Pete Davison – trumpet, Charlie Buchanan – trumpet, maddie Rix – violin. Live Sound: Edz John.

According to Riassa Khan-Panni: “The Mummers are “totally different in every single way” from the work she did as Raissa (her previous band). Their debut album, Tale to Tell, is a lushly orchestrated, Technicolor fantasia, inspired by “marching bands, big bands and fairgrounds”, not to mention Rufus Wainwright.”

This is charming pop music that defies the usual boundaries. Take “March of the Dawn” :

A selection a samples are on offer on the MySpace site and the Guardian has an article that sheds considerable light on the genesis of the Mummers, called Turning Over a Leaf.

jools is a graphic designer who used to front a band on vocals and bass. All evidence of which have mercifully been obliterated or otherwise lost.
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