The Mummers

Inspired by marching bands, big bands, and fairgrounds, baroque pop collective the Mummers were formed in 2006 by indie vocalist Raissa Khan-Panni, guitarist Paul Sandrone, and orchestral composer Mark Horwood. Raissa, a classical music graduate from Bristol University, released three albums (Sleeping Bugs, Meantime, and Believer) in the late noughties to critical acclaim, but little sales. After parting company with her label, Polydor, she became a waitress in a Brixton restaurant before teaming up with Sandrone and Horwood at his converted treehouse studio in Brighton, alongside an ever-changing array of local musicians. Named after the medieval door-to-door performing troupes, the Mummers released their well-received debut album, Tale to Tell, in April 2009, but tragedy struck five months later when Horwood was found hanged at his parents' home. In 2011, the group returned with a six-track EP, Mink Hollow Road, featuring new tracks and material written with Horwood before his death. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi