something something women in folk

it's december 2022. i scroll down a long catalogue of LPs and EPs with eye-catching artsy covers. not sure what i'm looking for, but i find it. a mundane shot of two young women in a very ordinary public bath. the title, "2012", sounds vague enough. and that's how Mukimukimanmansu introduce me to this beautiful world of yelling, screaming, chanting, speaking, and reciting, all at once. their music is rough and emotionally charged in ways that feel too familiar. they are vulnerable, and it rubs onto me.

i indulge in their live performances. and yet, my heart is not satiated. after some brief research, "Borrowed Tongue" by Minhwi Lee (one half of the duo) is next. gentle vocals mixed with carefully chosen instrumentals. a softness i didn't know i craved. if i had to establish any parallels, i'd say this album rightfully reminds me of the Korean couple's "Botanical Garden".

to close off this essay-esque blog post, november last year i happily found out Minhwi Lee released a new solo project, "Hometown to Come", that's just too good to ignore. sure her other works are equally impressive. but this particular album is the perfect fit in the scheme of things. anyways, thanks for reading till here.

links to the stuff i mentioned:
1. "2022", by Mukimukimanmansu
2. live performance of Mukimukimanmansu
3. "Borrowed Tongue", by Minhwi Lee
4. snipet of "Hometown to Come", by Minhwi Lee