Mono — One step more and you die
Mono’s first full-length was released in November 2001 on no less than John Zorn’s Tzadik. Under the pipal tree was not the most innovative album ever, sometimes sounding too much like other post-rock bands (and who needs yet another post-rock band?) yet it was quite impressive for a totally unknown, one-year old band, a hint that great things were on the way.
I guess the Mono guys were aware of this as One step more and you die adds to their sounds that little something which was lacking to make of them a unique band. The overall structures and sounds are still trademarked post-rock. Slow progression from very quiet moments to very loud ones, slow to fast, clear to distorted... A violin comes in on some songs to provide a bit of variety. Nothing really new if your familiar with some of the bands on Kranky and Constellation... But besides the elements used, you have to take into account the quality of the songs. And I tell ya, those lads now how to write a song....
The first and the third song are both very short and very quiet, and they have to be as they could be considered as an intro and an outro to the monster, the behemoth that is Com (?), a 15:57 long epic which might the best definition there is of what Mono is, only amplifying the heavy elements. It starts very quietly, echoing the first track but slowly gets moving towards wilder pastures. The guitars get distorted and enters in a solo frenzy. Then, it stops to catch its breath. You may think that the aggressive beast is going to leave you alone but it doesn’t take it more than a minute before going for your throat with a wall of guitar à la Mogwai, not far removed from our metal friends. The beast foams, rabid. It erupts, feedback. Animal strength prevails over rational thoughts and the instruments shut up, letting white noise do the talking. The song finishes in a sonic disorder. It’s gargantuan, magnificent. My bloody valentine and Merzbow are not far. Mopish morning, halation wiper is another excellent track, which remind some people of GY!BE and invokes the whole spectrum of emotions in 8:51. A speeding car is all but speeding yet it still is a really moving song. Loco tracks and Halo are both excellent, mixing the quiet and heavy parts with the talent Mono has shown throughout the entire album. Giant me on the other side is a long title for a short song... Album closer, it is very calm, a bit of guitars and gentle feedback, it reminds me of the moments after having cried, when you need the pain to heal but you are still very sad and know it will take time. I certainly hope that Mono will take as long as the pain to disappear for that kind of pain is highly enjoyable.
As they say in their official bio, Mono will have you “experience sadness and beauty, light and darkness, chaos and peace and happiness and melancholy”. I could not have said it better... And you have no excuse to miss them as One step more and you die, so far a Japan-only release, will be unleashed on the world by Arena Rock Rec. in April.
One question: what do they feed babies with in Japan to get so many good bands, wandering off the beaten paths?