Monostation - Tristimulus EP - 3" CDr - February 2009 - It gives me a huge amount of pleasure to bring you a third release on Smallfish by this talented London duo. Monostation have grown and evolved over the years that I've known and worked with them and, in my opinion, their progression has been pretty amazing. Naturally finding a niche (slightly before everyone else did, it must be said) within the drone / textural genre, they've put together a great deal of beautiful music in a remarkably short space of time. Tristimulus takes cues from their other work by using a mixture of melody, soundscape driven drone and this epic lushness that fits them like a glove. The first track, Spectral Locus, is beautiful and somewhat heartbreaking piece with a melancholy guitar line that drifts over surprisingly uplifting chords. Add to that the electronic backing sounds and it's a really fitting way to begin. The second and shortest track, 4 Degree Angle Of View, moves into a more classical area with pizzicato strings underpinning a phased, flanged set of sounds that reverberate and move effortlessly throughout. Distinctly different to the first track, it nonetheless sits happily next to it. The piece de resistance, if I may call it that, is the the third and final track, Metamarism, which is a distillation of everything that I love about these guys. It flows, it ebbs and it's totally full of passion and an epic beauty. Again, it's a sad piece, and yet at the same time I find myself smiling whilst listening to it. Simply, I thinkit's utterly magnificent. As always I'm chuffed to bring you music by Monostation and the lads have done me proud. Mastered by Taylor Deupree and limited to 100 copies. - Audio to follow shortly - |