Mono

Mono
@ The Grog Shop, Cleveland, April 16
by Andrew Clayman
Published in The Scene (Cleveland) and The Dallas Observer, April 2007




Like their crescendo-centric brethren in Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky, Japanese post-rockers Mono lay down the soundtracks for the Oscar-worthy epics in your head.

Formed in 2000 as a pet project by experimental guitarist Takaakira Goto, Mono soon evolved into an instrumental quartet, with guitarist Yoda (of Tokyo, not Dagobah), bassist Tamaki, and drummer Yasunori Takada joining the fold. The group’s early recordings were mostly lost in the shuffle amongst a healthy scene of Japanese noise rock, but by the time they signed with the American indie label Temporary Residence in 2004, Mono had begun to set itself apart, incorporating more elements of classical minimalism, free jazz, and Mogwai-style atmospherics into its wordless but famously intense live shows.

The band released a pair of acclaimed albums in 2006, balancing beauty and aggression on the Steve Albini produced You Are There, and collaborating with fellow Japanese act World’s End Girlfriend on the ambient but ominous orchestral CD Palmless Prayer/Mass Murder Refrain.