Up and Comers Music

Berlin-based outfit Monoland returns from a creative hiatus with First, a release that you might say subverts the ethos of its genre. Shoegaze traditionally invites a passive, introspective listening experience – a literal staring at one’s shoes beneath a wash of feedback. Yet, the landscape Monoland paints here across the six tracks has an unexpected, kinetic tension. Bridging post-rock, indie pop, and walls of sound, the music acts as an active, engaging force rather than a mere blur of noise.

There’s an obvious meticulous musicality in these songs, and a layered production, right from the opening moments of the track “toc”, which is sign of things to come. Jazz-inflected drumming anchors the mix beneath instruments that weave in and out of focus; the vocals are utilised as another textural instrument, dissolving and swelling within. Yes, you could call it Shoegaze, but for this reviewer, it evokes some of the sprawling, resonant melancholy of bands like The Doves. That is, until you get to Yasuhiko Fukuzono’s (aus) “Cooning” remix, which would not be out of place in an immersive art gallery.

Ultimately, First stands as an exercise in sonic reorientation, proving that atmospheric weight does not have to sacrifice forward momentum. Stream First and follow Monoland on your preferred digital platforms to stay up to date.

Stream our Up and Comers playlist for more emerging music discovery.

– Stephen Choi for Up and Comers