Rollin’ Over by mUmbo: Review

by Gabe Finch February 7, 2023

February 7, 2023

In 2020, two months before the UK’s Covid-19 shutdown, the alternative rock group mUmbo was formed, and ever since then, they have been bringing their distinctive sound to fans all around the globe. Popular music critics have praised mUmbo’s first album, ‘Fly With Swallows’, and its lead song, ‘Don’t Even Mind the Rain’, calling the band “memorable and graceful,” “genre-bending,” and “a remedy for the soul”. Their single, ‘Rollin’ Over’, is a great example of their unique sound.

From their earlier blues-influenced tracks, the song is a radical shift. This track sounds like The Cranberries because it combines indie, rock, and pop. Hovering over a bed of blues guitars and pounding percussion, Emma Semple’s eerie vocals provide the perfect finishing touch to this sonic landscape. The band members in the UK and Italy were able to work together remotely to produce this track. Lyrically, the song offers a message of hope and optimism against a backdrop of political and social unpredictability. The song’s theme of fresh starts and second chances serves as a gentle reminder to make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. It is much-needed music, with its calm ambiance and hopeful vision of life, especially in these hard times.

With Doug MacGowan’s ability to craft gorgeous solos and the interaction between Emma Semple’s vocals and guitars serving as the backbone, this is one uplifting experience. The song ‘Rollin’ Over’ by mUmbo is like a beacon of hope in the night.