UNDER THE PIPAL TREE

Mono is a Japanese post-rock band formed by Takaakira "Taka" Goto and Yoda (guitars), Tamaki (bass) and Yasunori Takada (drums). Despite the fact of not being on the traditional core of post-rock, their debut album didn't bring much of new to the genre. Instead, their music could be described based mostly on Mogwai's aesthetics, borrowing most of Explosions of the Sky's guitar tone and celestial feeling and using Godspeed You! Black Emperor's minimalistic haunting crescendos.

"Karelia (Opus 2)" and "The Kidnapper Bell", almost twin tracks, represent an even more minimalistic paled version of Mogwai's centerpiece "Mogwai Fear Satan", but with the flute replaced by some GY!BE-esque violins on the first one. The only genuine difference, perhaps, was on transforming occasionally the post-rock cathartic explosions on vigorous distorted guitar jam soiling. "Jackie Says" sounds to much an Explosions in the Sky's contemplative peaceful hymn, as with "L'America", this particularly the album's one which they would be proud of making. The subtle "Op Beach" starts somewhere between Slint's depression and Mogwai's resignation, developing, more again, in the characteristic Explosions in the Sky's celestial breathes. The intricate "Error #9", one of the best, just recapitulates in the same way this ode to the post-rock icons. The album ends with the uncharacteristic, languid violin driven "Human Highway".

In the end, we have the feeling it is subtle and delicate enough to the genre, but its feeling evokes to much their post-rock heroes, resulting in a consummate dejavu.