The Monochrome Set
Strange Boutique

Founded by Bid, the Monochrome are one of the best New Wave bands, reminiscent of the musicals of the '30s with a distinct taste for psychedelia.

It's 1980 and a great masterpiece has just been released for Dindisc. The album opens with "The Monochrome Set", tribal drums and progressive arrangements for a grand introduction. "The Lighter Side Of Dating" is a dreamy pop track, psychedelia reminiscent of Blossom Toes, July... a refined piece where the guitar sets its unbreakable rules, perhaps the best track, an unbeatable chorus. "Espresso" is a joyful piece dominated by choruses and an ever-present guitar, Bid skillfully changes his voice according to the needs, and here it comes through clearly. "The Puerto Rican Fence Climber" is a song narrated by the usual ever-motivating and reassuring guitar, ideal for relaxing, pure music with no vocal interruptions, a good interlude to open "Tomorrow Will Be Too Long" a sad song where the bass is particularly prominent, giving a fun touch to a track that would otherwise be dull, a bit of Elvis at the start and of Television in the beauty of the guitar solo. The first side closes with "Martians Go Home" pure fun, a costume party for poor crazy Americans, splashes of Beach Boys (luckily the guitar is audible!) and vocals in Kinks style (long live the kinks).

The second side opens with "Love Goes Down The Drain" it's still psychedelia, pure and fun, good attack and excellent interludes, always a bit Kinks. "Ici Les Enfants", a slow crawl towards paradise, excellent dialogue between guitar and bass, with hints from S. F Sorrow in the attack of the chorus. "The Etcetera Stroll" is a landscape for filtered guitars exchanging gunshots in the desert of the Far West... Both prevail... And you can feel it! Finally, the drums powerfully kick in, accompanying again the riff phrased by bass and guitar. "Goodbye Joe" is the best track on the album, a long ballad, sweet and melodic, seems like a farewell to a soldier unlikely to return as before; excellent as it leads us to "Strange Boutique" a festive song, a union of noises and everything contained in the album. A great track to conclude beautifully, seemingly simple but of great importance in context. They placed the song at the end like Quicksilver did for Happytrails.

I wrote this review in the euphoria of the third listening of the album in two hours straight! Splendid, few words, I recommend it to everyone!

Cheers from Psychobonco!