MNMM

MNMM’s self-titled debut record is a captivating ‘middle-east meets west’ mix of post-rock, ambience, heaving progressions and Iranian musical elements.


Comprised of members from Goodbye Enemy Airship, Warpigs and ZÖJ, this new project, spurned from the minds of Gelareh Pour, Gerard Mason and Brian O’Dwyer, is a culminating point of some of Melbourne’s finest post-rock composers. Elements of Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and even tiny hints of Tangled Thoughts of Leaving are riddled throughout the music – all tastefully blended with Middle Eastern lyricism and instrumentation.


“With Gelareh being from Iran, it’s only natural for her to sing in her mother tongue,” begins O’Dwyer. “Personally, I hear voice as just another texture or layer within a track, so having all the words in Farsi adds something a bit special or different for me, I don’t think I’d enjoy this music as much if it was sung in English. All the lyrics are taken from works by contemporary Iranian poet Houshang Ebtehaj, except for one track that was written by Mohammad Ali Talebi, father of Arash Talebi, a dear friend who passed away in 2015. Iranians take their poetry very seriously, culturally it’s considered one of the highest art forms. This album largely deals with themes of love, loss, hope, tragedy, all rather fitting for the music. “