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
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPDwina Gibb - Interview
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Barrie Barlow - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Kula Shaker - Natural MagickIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for Bread
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Inutili - A Love Supreme
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Ty Segall - Three Bells
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