When MONO first conceived of a live concert backed by an orchestra, it seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime dream of an event that would require a unique set of circumstances, an enormous crew of like-minded and generous contributors, and a titanic amount of luck. At exactly a decade into their career, it was by far their most ambitious undertaking. They flew from their home country of Japan – where, at the time, they were ironically less acclaimed and accomplished than in the United States and Europe – to New York City, where they assembled an orchestra, secured a historic venue near Lincoln Center, and bet on themselves to pull off a truly unforgettable evening. Not only was the concert a rousing success, but it spawned what has become a defining part of MONO’s…
Tag Archive: Temporary Residence
Seeing the “devotional” tag sneak back to the top of Grails‘ Bandcamp list, one knows to expect another shift. Since 2003, the chameleonic band has kept fans interested in their every move, while two individual members have thrown curveballs under the guise of Lilacs and Champagne.
So if lead single “Silver Bells,” which launches in a tape wobble and seems like a modern Sufi service, may remind listeners of another song of that name, it’s no coincidence; the title of the album, after all, is Miracle Music, and the cover seems to portray supplicants holding hands, bowed in prayer.
“Silver Bells” doesn’t take long to develop into a hypnotic post-rock piece, featuring a wall of beats and guitars, supplemented by Eastern ornamentation. It’s tempting to think that…