Misty Roses — Monster Zero
Monster zero stand as the projects second releases after their full length last year. It’s really an ep offering up the title track in three different version and four other tracks. I’ll have to admit the two remixes of Monster Zero do little for me.The original version of the track is a mix of electro beat, synth washes and guitar sighs, a really caughty lounge lizard of a track. Almost like a more electronic version of the indie dapper popster Divine comedy. Next up we have the highlight for me Innsmonth jewellery- which is a wonderfully humerble, bizarre and oddly touching tribute to coil’s John Balance. It mixes oceanic lounge 50’s flutter, via poppy electro elements, as lead singer Robert Conroy talks about Geoffrey( Balances real name was Geoffrey Rushton) "bringing up a jewelled tiara from the ocean floor" Later he sings with real emotion over glicthy break down “will you still sing songs for me Geoffrey, from the bottom of the sea”.
The coil connection follows on in the the next track with the dubbed out surf come experimental edge of Sleeping beauty. Which has none other than Little Annie singing on it, whom guested on one of coil’s most know album Love Secret Domain. She has a great sinister & seductive manner to her voice, quite unlike anyone else. Really making the mist shrouded gum shoe alleyways of the track shine so darkly.
The whole release mixes well divined pop elements with more experimental twist. Making this appeal to both those who enjoy a good tune and a bit more inventive fair. I can see Misty Roses giving birth to something rather very special in their future releases- this stands as more of a exquisite taster.