Sonic Level: Mono - Are You There?

Looking back into the past, it's hard to believe that there was so much room for new post-rock bands, which sounded very similar to each other. Uncountable number of acts were completely unable to create their own style and greeted us with doubtful prize of worthless albums. The attempts continue to this day and, to my least pleasure, I often encounter music of no invention, climate, flow or melody. Boredom is the greatest threat for all post-rock fans and sadly, it's more rule than exception.

But well, whatever, let's talk about those, who had enough flair to distinguish themselves. Year 2000 saw birth of Mono - Japanese four-piece group from metropolis of Tokyo. Some obvious geographic issues could kill any ambitious project, but Takaakira Goto, a lone band founder, was determined to make use of his outstanding talent. Soon he found good company, and the work has started. Step by step, Mono developed from obscure and ordinary band, to one of the greatest post-rock musicians with both unique style and extraoridinary live abilities.

The thing that makes Mono so good is instrumental mastery turned into subtle, etherical style of guitar play. Rarely one may see a band that is so much in control of soudscape mood. Mono is just unique, and fortunately, it's still releasing new creations; recently under title Hymn To the Immortal Wind.

Mono - Are You There?