U.M.M.
U.M.M. is a Electronic Body Music (EBM) project from Lisbon, Portugal. They sing in their own mother language, the Portuguese language. This particularity gives their music an exotic touch since there are no actual EBM bands singing in Portuguese. The members are João Pinheiro (Synths, Live Percussion, Programming, Sampling, Back Vocals and production), Luís Ribeiro and André Gastão (Main Vocals, Lyrics and Sampling). A good comparison may be as well made with modern EBM or anhalt bands like Spetsnaz, Sturm Café, EkoBrottsMyndigheten, A.D.A.C.8286, Tech Nomader or Spark!
Some say the initials U.M.M. are a reference to a metal works factory and former Portuguese automobile manufacturer. In that case the name should mean União Metalo-Mecânica (Metal and Mechanic Union). In fact the name U.M.M. is dedicated to this truly well known ex-automobile manufacturer but the meaning of the letters stand for União Musical Mineira (Miner Musical Union). The idea for the name came down from their first song release "O Mineiro" on CD.
Politics and lyrics
There is a big discussion about U.M.M's political content. Some have misjudged them in a wrong way and said there are some influencies on the Oi!/streetpunk scene. These kind of opinions always relate the new oldschool EBM to the skinhead subculture. It's not unusual to see Anhalt EBM fans sporting short, rockabilly and ramp haircut styles, braces or suspenders and military camouflage clothing. The real meaning of this kind of attitude only connects the new EBM to some kind of socialist, anarchist, punk and working class spirit but this has nothing to do directly with the skinhead scene. U.M.M. lyrics are a reflexion of their own points of view on the modern society and politics. There is always a lot of sarcasm but they don't take the political ideals too far. There is no form of political extremism in the attitude or in the content of the lyrics.
Career
Their music is influenced by the German EBM anhalt style and oldschool EBM acts like Nitzer Ebb, DAF and Pouppée Fabrikk. The iconography or imagery of the project is based on their musical influencies. Bands like Nitzer Ebb or Orange Sector are bright examples that use the same type of images and symbols. In this case, the symbolic meaning is related to Electronic Body Music and nothing more.
The first release, "O Mineiro" appears on the 2007 Lieder der Berge CD compilation, with various artists from Germany, Spain or Sweden. It was released by the EBM German label Electric Tremor Dessau, in association with anr organization called Elektrofront Erzebirge.
They played on June 14, 2008 at the fourth edition of the EBM Festival Familientreffen organized by Electric Tremor Dessau. It happens every year on the soccer field of German Saxony-Anhalt town of Sandersleben. They returned to Germany in February 2009 sharing stage with the Portuguese EBM band Lokomotiv, AD:keY and Ionic Vision. Their first official release came from a free Internet label called Enough Records, in 2008. The self-titled release has eight songs in MP3 format.
They also participated on a Portuguese compilation release with a lot of Portuguese Industrial music acts like Mikroben Krieg, Sci Fi Industries, Waste Disposal Machine, Control Alt Deus, 1N.C1.D3.N7, and AktiveHate. At first, in 2008 was a free release from Enough Records, then the physical release came out in early 2009 with the help of an experimental Portuguese label called Thisco.
Elektrofront Erzgebirge, Black Rain and Promofabrik recently have brought to daylight a new limited edition work in a double CD release called Help Can't Wait, and it counts with a lot more EBM and Electro Industrial acts. U.M.M. participates with the song "Commando Ninja". This was released to raise funds against child poverty in India.
Discography
- U.M.M. - Free MP3 mini-album with 8 songs - Enough Records (2008)
Remixes
- A.D.A.C.8286 - Aggressive Man (Bofetada Mix by U.M.M.) - "Straight On" - CDr, Album - Electric Tremor (2008)
- Tech Nomader - Trabajo Nonstop (Beat' em Up Mix by U.M.M.) - "New Seed" CDr, Album - Electric Tremor (2009)
Compilations
- Lieder Der Berge: Elektronische Grüße Aus Dem Erzgebirge - CDr, Comp, Ltd Edition - Electric Tremor, Elektrofront Erzgebirge (2007) - "O Mineiro - Der Bergmann"
- This Is Industrial [PT] - Comp, Free MP3 release - Enough Records (2008) - "Poligamia"
- This Is Industrial [PT] - CDr, Comp, Ltd Edition - Thisco, Enough Records (2009) - "Poligamia"
- Help Can't Wait - 2 CDr, Comp, Ltd Edition - Elektrofront Erzgebirge, Black Rain , Promofabrik (2009) - "Commando Ninja"