A Nod to Mono

Early on in 2006, I went to Denton to see Pelican and this band I knew nothing about from Japan called Mono.

Not knowing much about a band, I tend to drink up and pay little attention to their setting up and may not be overly curious about what they sound like. I nestled with some friends into a booth and proceeded to drink as The Life and Times played a great opening set.

In between them and Pelican was Mono. I don't think any of us at the table were ready for what we heard. Rich layers of guitar, bass and drums swirling from one ethereal soundscape to another begging every listener there to enter into this vivid snow-covered landscape they were creating with their unique sound. Subtle, almost silent intros lead into massive walls of symphony-like crescendos towering over the audience like moving mountains of human emotions only to drop us back into the secret oceans from which they snatched us and let us float away into the next warm watery residence for the next 15 to 20 minutes.

To this day, every perfect moment (painful or joyous) in life can be reflected in the rays of light and the haunting shadows of the music of Mono.

(((03))) V.2