Japan’s Mono have always remained at the back of my mind for the last twenty years or so, as I preferred the somewhat similar post-rock bands Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky. Tonight’s performance has made me an instant fan and why I ignored them I just do not know! It was allso the first time I’ve ever seen such a massive gong behind the drummer (which they only used twice). Starting proceedings were Dutch band GGGOLDDD (Pronounced ‘Gold’), who combined an original dark goth pop sound with a tinge of Krautrock. Their performance was spellbinding and powerful. Vocalist Milena Eva’s lyrics provided accounts of bruising trauma and abuse, but all the same were very listenable. Japan’s Mono came on stage with the two guitarists Takaakari Goto and Hideki Suematsu seated on either side of bassist, Tamaki Kunishi. They started with ‘Riptide’, the opening track from recent 2021 album 'Pilgrimage of the Soul'. The band started quietly until exploding into a bombastic guitar and drum onslaught which was quite breath-taking. This kind of sound continued in the band's set and, yes, one or two times it made me jump! One of the highlights was ‘Ashes in the Snow’ which was utterly captivating stating with a simple glockenspiel, a few guitar licks and then a sonic avalanche of beauty. They generated an incredible amount of distortion, creating a “wall of sound” effect throughout, but especially so on closer ‘Com(?)’ which they chose to stand up on. The song was much longer than the fifteen-minute studio version at a solid eighteen minutes, reimagined and rearranged and they rocked out fully! Set List: Riptide Imperfect Things Nowhere, Now Here Innocence Sorrow Halcyon (Beautiful Days) Ashes in the Snow Encore: Com(?) Photos by Nige Nudds
Band Links:-
http://monoofjapan.bandcamp.com/https://www.facebook.com/monoofjapan
https://twitter.com/monoofjapan
https://www.youtube.com/user/monoofjapan
https://plus.google.com/+MONOofJapan
https://www.instagram.com/monoofjapan/
Play in YouTube:-
Picture Gallery:-
intro
Nige Nudds enjoys an impressive set of exuberant post-rock from Japanese band Mono at the Norwich Arts Centre.
soundcloud
reviews |
|
For My Parents (2012) |
|
| Frequently cliched, but also equally often impressive latest album from Japanese post-rock band, Mono |
| Gone (2007) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Kay Russell - Interview with Kay Russell
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Pulp - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Jay Reatard - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart