Monochrome – Éclat CD

Monochrome – Éclat CD

"Besides, what does greater mean here? This band, scattered across Basel, Berlin and Stuttgart, has actually done everything there is to do, at least in the indie universe. There would be endless D.I.Y. honors, much like The Robocop Kraus. Just like the Franconians, Monochrome emerged from a hardcore band (Dawnbreed), have released heaps of singles and EPs on the greatest indie labels since 1994 (Dim Mak, Transsolar, X-Mist) and have toured half the world. After the 1999 LP “Laser”, “Éclat” is only the second full-fledged album that fits perfectly into the stickman/sticksister scene. The band is now approaching their songs more focused and poppy than before. They are always finely balanced and no longer explicitly experimental or long. Each of the twelve pieces is a well-polished, finely crafted gem that surprises with a wide variety of features. It's either Krautrock song titles like "Zweibruch", "Gegenstück" or "Head Overcross", a banjo that suddenly appears and unsuitable-suitable "Uh la la" chants, an interspersed instrumental, fine electro gimmicks, jazzy-loungy moments or German lines a largely English text. The vocals are divided fairly fairly between male and female, which gives Monochrome a special appeal. Even if the band has been around for a long time, you can cite references with a clear conscience. With “Series Of Catastrophe And Celebrations” the comparison to Dredg inevitably comes to mind: the track is not lacking much to be a complete copy of “Ode To The Sun”. If that's just a coincidence, then a spooky one (actually, it probably is, if the band's statements are to be trusted). You could also find the proper “Souvenir Of A Sentimental Non-Event” on a Blackmail record. The closing “Kosmodrom” is again reminiscent of Engine Down's post-core, and “Every Once In A While” calls to mind older Robocop Kraus but is more straightforward. “Éclat” is a great record by a band worth discovering." - Jan Schwarzkamp