Muuju – Bedforms Review

What does Muuju sound like?

Chillout chunky beats with cosy vibe synths.

The review of ‘Bedforms’ by Muuju

Andreas Schütz, who is one half of the duo il:lo, also creates music under the name Muuju. As Muuju, the French-Austrian producer creates downtempo, chillout music. His debut EP ‘Bedforms’ has a lot in common with lo-fi beats music as it carries a dreamy, airy atmosphere with a lot of vinyl spitting effects. That said, the beats are harder and heavier than most lo-fi music, and it’s that crossover that drew me in.

‘Zest’ opens the EP with chunky drum loops and lots of trickling electronics. Whether they splat and trickle on the beat or cascade satisfyingly across the bar of music, it’s a playful and inventive tune. The beats are far heavier and fuller than anything in the lo-fi world. It’s something that fellow downtempo artist Mikel would also perform. The title track follows. It plays with cute electric pianos, layers of vintage vinyl spits and damage, and playful adlib vocal samples that hold no words but provide a childlike, wonderlust tone. The pitter-patter of tape-warped yet warm electric piano tones reminds me of lots of nostalgic indie game soundtracks.

‘Odeon’ introduces us to a glassy electric toy piano hybrid with vocoder voice samples and light synths draping the main melodies. Muuju says he is inspired by the repetition of patterns in minimalist music, and you can hear it in how he builds melodies and then slowly swaps instruments in and out to keep the base melodies fresh. ‘Odean’ does this best with its tight beats and watery effects. Fans of Caribou would be right at home with a track like this. Muuju balances a quietly forceful pulse with tinges of sadness and regret beautifully here.

‘Pastel’ continues the sad beauty of the music with a bassy kick drum throb over indietronica vocal and synth samples. The vocal samples used across the EP sound like a mixture of Vocaloid and vocoder due to how they are layered and warped out of tune. They sound drone-like and sound saddened and exhausted. To brighten the track, a sparkly synth solo juxtaposes the rustic in-room piano of the main melody. Muuju leaves the chirpier track ‘Birds’ to round off the EP with an uplifting lilt. This track heals the mind with numb, hollow throbs of synth hues and high octave flute-like synths. They pipe over birdsong and electroacoustic-styled chillout beats. Warm, dewy, and aurally choral without a voice being used, it’s a hypnotic jig that pleases and satisfies in equal measure.

Muuju’s blend of downtempo stomps, aural and airy synths, and sad vocal samples creates a sound that is akin to lo-fi beats in style and emotion. Yet the beats are strong enough to take you to the dancefloor. Yes, they may be slower, but they have a real rhythm and groove that’s undeniable. It is that which sets Muuju apart from the swathes of lo-fi beats music that goes in one ear and out the other unchallenged.

Recommended track: Odeon

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