The Monochrome Set:
Spaces Everywhere:
Tapete:
CD/LP/DD:
Out March 13th:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Formed in 1978, Bid and the gang have been perplexing and delighting in equal measure for the best part of three decades. What is more perplexing than their lyrical achievements is complete indifference from the media - just what do The Monochrome Set have to do to get more than just a little critical appraisal? Well they could do way worse than Spaces Everywhere because, by crikey, they've made a peach of an album for Germany's Tapete imprint.
Future single Iceman is a cracking start - intricate bluesy guitar riffing offsets Bid's vaguely socio-political commentary rather well, a combination that will no doubt work a treat when played live. Fantasy Creatures is rather more languid until the foot-tapping chorus kicks in and turns the song on its head, before the rockier Avenue rears its proggy head with some rather crazy organ twiddling going on. Fans of the band will be heartened to know you're facing the prospect of indulging in an album that's the equal of their earliest work - one listen of the sashaying Rain Check will confirm this.
Talking of their previous outings ....
The Monochrome Set:
Eligible Bachelors:
Optic Nerve:
LP Redux:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★★★☆
Originally issued on Cherry Red in 1982, The Monochrome Set's third stab at world domination saw them aim a little wider than student bedrooms with a somewhat cosmopolitan collection of songs that includes the now-classic Jet Set Junta and the single The Ruling Class. Now just 33 years later comes another superb vinyl repackage and facsimile from Optic Nerve, the team that gave you excellent recent wax represses of Girls At Our Best and Cud.
Pressed on quality coloured vinyl with two extra tracks, the admittedly not-hard-to-find Cast a Long Shadow and it's b-side J.D.H.A.N.E.Y., the mood of Eligible Bachelors is certainly as light as its colour. The Mating Game lists just about every legal sexual act over a jolly jazzy indie-pop without one hint of irony while the brilliantly-titled Great Barrier Riff has a mind-bending intro and a bonkers bongo backbeat laced with Bacharach-style harmonies, a fitting climax (oo-er missus) if ever there was one. A neat, nifty and natty labour of love.
Spaces Everywhere:
Tapete:
CD/LP/DD:
Out March 13th:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Future single Iceman is a cracking start - intricate bluesy guitar riffing offsets Bid's vaguely socio-political commentary rather well, a combination that will no doubt work a treat when played live. Fantasy Creatures is rather more languid until the foot-tapping chorus kicks in and turns the song on its head, before the rockier Avenue rears its proggy head with some rather crazy organ twiddling going on. Fans of the band will be heartened to know you're facing the prospect of indulging in an album that's the equal of their earliest work - one listen of the sashaying Rain Check will confirm this.
Talking of their previous outings ....
The Monochrome Set:
Eligible Bachelors:
Optic Nerve:
LP Redux:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★★★☆
Pressed on quality coloured vinyl with two extra tracks, the admittedly not-hard-to-find Cast a Long Shadow and it's b-side J.D.H.A.N.E.Y., the mood of Eligible Bachelors is certainly as light as its colour. The Mating Game lists just about every legal sexual act over a jolly jazzy indie-pop without one hint of irony while the brilliantly-titled Great Barrier Riff has a mind-bending intro and a bonkers bongo backbeat laced with Bacharach-style harmonies, a fitting climax (oo-er missus) if ever there was one. A neat, nifty and natty labour of love.