VIVA Strange Boutique - Tokyo's Post-Punk, New Wave & Indie Store

VIVA Strange Boutique is a fantastic store located near Okusawa station in the south-west of Tokyo close to Jiyugaoka and its packed with vintage Post-Punk and Indie posters, badges, records, music magazines and memorabilia. The emphasis is very much on U.K. Post-Punk and Indie with prominent displays of the more avant-garde and DIY acts such as Alternative TV, Television Personalities, Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV. Store owner Minami, who also sings and plays guitar with her own band, She Talks Silence, designs and produces original, officially authorised merchandise for some of her favourite bands and artists such as Felt, A Certain Ratio, The Raincoats, Durutti Column, David J, The Vaselines, Primal Scream, Sparks and the Japanese band Plastics who were a kind of cross between The B-52's, Wall of Voodoo and early Talking Heads. She's had some well known visitors too, DJ Don Letts and Devo's frontman Mark Mothersbaugh have popped in to visit the store. 

 

You can check out the VIVA Strange Boutique online store here for the full list of merchandise, as they also offer shipping worldwide. Of course, you can probably guess from the store's name, that Minami is a huge fan of The Monochrome Set and they recently invited the band over to Tokyo to headline a sold-out gig at the WWWX venue in Shibuya to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the store's opening. 

 

There's also an exhibition space in the basement and luckily we were able to catch an exhibtion of stunning photos by the music photographer Toshi Yajima who also just so happened to be in the store, so we could have a nice chat about this work and career as a UK based correspondent sharing his photos to various publications back in Japan. He took very early photos of the Sex Pistols in their Denmark Street rehearsal room in 1976 and would go on to photograph all the musical greats such as The Clash, The Jam, David Bowie, XTC, Iggy Pop, The Damned, Japan, Morrissey, The B-52's, Devo, Paul Weller, The Specials and Kraftwerk among many others - all are featured in an excellent book entitled "Each & Every One" which was actually published by VIVA Strange Boutique. Hopefully, we will be doing a more in-depth feature on his superb pictures sometime in the future.

With thanks to Minami and Toshi Yajima. For more information on VIVA Strange Boutique please check out their web-site here and Facebook page here, they are also on Instagram.

Lester Square "Invisible Man" - New Solo LP from former Monochrome Set guitarist

 

Lester Square, the original guitarist with Adam & The Ants and The Monochrome Set is back with another eclectic and thoroughly satisfying solo instrumental album called "Invisible Man" which could well be the soundtrack to an imaginary movie. First track "Who The Gods Destroy" sets the scene of what's to come perfectly. It's packed with buzzing analogue synth and keyboard sounds, tinny drum machines and all topped off by Lester's trademark twanging guitar riffs. I'm reminded of early Wall of Voodoo, who were originally a soundtrack/score composing collective before they added the vocal talents of Stan Ridgway. "Invisible Man's" evocative songs conjure up images of robots, old computer games and vintage Sci-Fi movies complete with spliced dialogue, swooping aircraft and special effects. The mix of styles flows effortlessly throughout the album, there's the pulsing 90's style Techno of "Disco Bizarro" and then we're on more familiar guitar-led territory with the excellent "Trudi French (Slight Return)". The shimmering, glacial wash of oriental synths in "Shinjuku" is reminiscent of Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Neo Geo" album and certainly brings the 24-hour neon-lit Bladerunner atmosphere of Tokyo's pleasure district to life. "Leaf" is a particular favourite and the crunching chords and jazzy guitar-riffing are reminiscent of The Monochrome Set, all underpinned by some nice Arabic percussion. Lester brings things down to Earth with the bumpy crash-landing of "COP26" which is shot through with chilling sound-bites regarding the failure of the powers-that-be to tackle the effects of climate change and suddenly the outer-space of "Invisible Man" seems quite appealing. The mood is lightened by an unexpected bonus track to end with, a version of John Barry's stirring "Zulu" theme however, Lester has subverted the genre and relocated the action from Rorke's Drift to the Wild West with an uptempo Ventures style Spaghetti Western romp. Lester plays all instruments and has written all the tracks except "Zulu" which was composed by John Barry. "Invisible Man" was recorded at Liberal Elite Studios in Islington and will be available in February from Lester's Bandcamp page. You'll be able to hear a track from the album in our forthcoming episode of Retrosonic Podcast so please subscribe at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts to ensure you don't miss out.

 

Lester with The Monochrome Set at Retro Man Blog Night, The Half Moon Putney - Photo Paul Slattery

"Invisible Man, his 5th solo album, sees Lester move to a more cinematic arena. Employing synthesised sound and sampled aural collage, he reels in the reels, brings Sci-Fi to the Hi-Fi, terror to the turn table, romance to the dance floor... and a re-look at some old favourites. The whole is rounded off with a more serious look at science fact, a reaction to the failure of COP26 as well as a 'live' bonus track! So, expect phasers set to stun and more ear worms than you can shake a stick at. Pop some corn, put the headphones on and settle down to an instrumental blockbuster: from Sulu to Zulu, a Saturday matinee of movie mayhem and mirth with a sobering twist. Schlock & Roll!" 

 

"Lester Square's guitar style influenced The Smiths, the Glasgow and Edinburgh Post Punk scenes, and then their successors, Franz Ferdinand." - Ian Bourne, Gig Soup

"Kind of groovy and danceable, but extremely bookish as well: very clever." - Graham Coxon

The 50 Guitars of Lester Square "Serotonin": New Solo Album from ex-Monochrome Set Guitarist Coming Soon

Lester Square was the original guitarist in Adam and the Ants before co-founding The Monochrome Set with whom he has released eleven studio albums. He has also recorded with The Invisible, Jesus Couldn’t Drum, And The Native Hipsters, Victory Through Sound and Helen McCookerybook. Lester will release a new solo album entitled "Serotonin" in July and this will be the follow up to his excellent debut solo LP "Carcass", which we featured in Retro Man Bog here. It's another intriguing and inventive selection of musical vignettes that cram in a myriad of different sounds and influences. Some of the songs such as "Blake's Dream" - one of three co-written with ex-Smith, Craig Gannon - are like mini-symphonies while others have evocative orchestral arrangements that seem ideal for movie scores. The track "Shaken Not Stirred" as you may imagine could well be a theme tune to a James Bond movie and Lester plays with this filmic element throughout the album. He throws in lots of twangy Surf riffs and the occasional blast of Garage Rock Fuzz as well as Baroque synth sounds sound effects and radio and TV news broadcast excerpts. "Privates on Parade" is driven along by some military snare drumming and a toy town rhythm track that's not unlike what Lawrence from Felt is now doing with Go-Kart Mozart. There's even time for a bit of Sitar on "Prime Time (Cowboys & Indians)" and "Pachelbel's Pistol" features some dreamy female backing vocals and the percussion gives it a Tropicalia feel - all topped off by Lester's familiar exquisite guitar work.

Lester Square photographed at our Retro Man Blog Night in May 2014 by Paul Slattery

"The new Lester Square album "Serotonin" follows up last year's "Carcass" with yet more melodic soundscapes crammed with the kind of earworms and guitar hooks that were his Monochrome Set calling card. Lester is joined by guests such as Craig Gannon (Aztec Camera, The Bluebells, The Smiths) and Andy Vaughan (Victory Through Sound) to produce a toe-tapping, fender bender of an opus, infused with a lush filmic sense of mood and everywhere the plangent sound of the guitar, in all its incarnations. From the space disco of Cassini Godspeed to the raga redux of Prime Time (Cowboys and Indians); from the 'Carry On' square bashing of "Privates on Parade" to the psychedelia of the title track; from the pastoral poignancy of "L'Olivarie" to the 'strum' und drang of "Shaken Not Stirred"; Serotonin is an album of infectious melody but with all the edge and verve you would expect from this mover and shaker of the Indy Sound. So move over, Duane Eddy; sling your hooks, Tommy Garrett; thanks, but no thanks, Hank. With this feel good album, Lester Square is now claiming the aural high ground." - Johnny Besoin

All songs written and performed by Lester Square except "Shaken Not Stirred", "Blake's Dream" and "50 Guitars" which were written and performed by Lester Square and Craig Gannon. Vocals on "Pachelbel’s Pistol" by Jenny Besoin, Sitar intro on "Prime Time (Cowboys and Indians)": Bobby Lightfoot, Guest guitarists on "50 Guitars": Jeremy Wilson, Andy Vaughan, Ian Evans, Jen Denitto, Ciaron Marlow, Andy Bushrod, Brian Nupp, Nate Stiles, Cliff Adams, Mark Ashe and Steve Thompson. The album recorded at Liberal Elite Studios, Islington in 2018 and was mastered by Craig Gannon. "Serotonin" will be released in July and is available to order from the Lester Square Bandcamp site here.

Lester Square "Carcass" - New Solo Album from The ex-Monochrome Set & Adam & The Ants Guitarist

Lester Square photographed by Paul Slattery at our Retro Man Blog Night back in 2014

Lester Square, the original guitarist in Adam & The Ants and co-founder of The Monochrome Set has just released a new solo album entitled "Carcass". The title track features Lester's trademark twanging riffs that will of course be familiar to fans of The Monochrome Set. It's a great opener, like Dick Dale or Link Wray performing the soundtrack to an Ennio Morricone Spaghetti Western movie. Another personal highlight is "Time Flies" which is a beautifully pastoral song with vocals from The Chefs' Helen McCookerybook that reminds me of Goldfrapp's "Seventh Tree" album and it wouldn't have been out of place on the soundtrack to "The Wicker Man". Although by the end the peaceful landscape seems to get shattered and polluted by the sound of screaming fighter jets. The rest of the album features a diverse set of evocative and mainly instrumental songs that range from pulsing funky brass to baroque orchestral pieces. There's even some Gaelic Pipe Folk rubbing shoulders with organ driven tracks that touch on The Senior Service or James Taylor Quartet's output. But of course it's Lester's instantly recognisable and inventive, yet still seriously underrated, guitar work that is the star of the show. As well as recording eleven studio albums with The Monochrome Set, Lester has also recorded with The Invisible, Jesus Couldn’t Drum, ...And The Native Hipsters, Victory Through Sound and Helen McCookerybook. The official description of the album goes something like this: "Carcass, is a product of its times; a collection, if you will, of protest instrumentals; sound poems to chart these extraordinary times. Whether imagining the insect winners of a post nuclear winter, or the secrets of the Trump penthouse, these works are in equal measure poignant, sarcastic, angry and hopeful. It has been said that revolution today has no soundtrack in the same way that the anti-Vietnam draft resistance of the sixties did. For what its worth the redress starts here". You can order the CD of "Carcass" from Lester's Bandcamp page here.

Lester will be re-joining The Monochrome Set for two very special gigs at The Lexington in Islington to celebrate 40 years since The Monochrome Set formed. The band will be playing their first two albums "Strange Boutique" and "Love Zombies" in their entirety and a set of favourites, over two nights, Saturday 10th February and Sunday 11th February next year. The gig is being promoted by Bizarro and support on both nights comes from The Would-Be-Goods Two who feature Jessica Griffin and Peter Momtchiloff of the original WBG's playing a stripped down set of songs old and new. You can order tickets in advance from We Got Tickets here. There's no news yet if Lester will be playing any solo gigs to promote the release of "Carcass" but in the meantime here's the title track.

Lester Square photo copyright Paul Slattery. You can see a feature, including more of Paul's excellent photos of our Retro Man Blog Night featuring The Monochrome Set and The Fallen Leaves back in May 2014 at the Retro Man Blog archive here. 

The Monochrome Set with The Fallen Leaves at the Retro Man Blog Night, Half Moon Putney May 24th

The Monochrome Set by Paul Slattery

Firstly, I'd just like to say many thanks to everyone that came along on Saturday to our Retro Man Blog night at The Half Moon in Putney with The Monochrome Set and special guests The Fallen Leaves. The gig was sold out so I really appreciate the fantastic turn-out on a night that clashed, not only with many other "Blog-friendly" gigs in London, but also with various high profile football games. There was a really friendly atmosphere full of anticipation and I think both bands responded with absolutely stunning sets that rewarded the crowd perfectly. Opening the night were The Fallen Leaves and they always seem to rise to the occasion at The Half Moon, they just seem to be made for each other. Rob Green is the consummate front-man, with his tweed jacket and cravat, he's like a conjurer delving into his bag of tricks to keep us entertained. At various points he will pull out a whistle or a tambourine, he will blow perfect smoke rings from his electronic cigarette and during "Shining" takes off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves, pulls his armband tight against the veins and helps himself to a fix of PG Tips from his thermos flask. He sips his tea, gazing out at the crowd, the man with that deep resonant crooning voice and the most expressive fingers in Garage Rock. 

Rob Green of The Fallen Leaves by Paul Hughes

Well, I say Rock, but The Fallen Leaves are almost "Anti-Rock". "No jeans, no trainers, no cover versions" is one of their mottos and they play a finely honed set that is lean, with all the bloated rock excess stripped away and flung into the mincer. Rob Symmons, the original Subway Sect guitarist, holds his guitar so high you half expect some sort of scratchy Haircut 100 sound. But instead he physically assaults his Fender, smashing the body, twisting the strings, wringing the life out of it. Most people who witness his style for the first time just stand open-mouthed in awe. In fact, I met one guy from the States at the band's 12 Bar Club residency who was so blown away that he just filmed a whole song focusing solely on Robs awesome fretwork. The American said "awesome" not me, but quite frankly it was! Like Lester Square, Rob Symmons is one of the most underrated guitarists to come out of Punk, New Wave, Post-Punk whatever you want to call it, both turning convention on it's head whilst still working within recognized melodic structures. 

The Fallen Leaves by Paul Slattery

The band's rhythm section is fast becoming one of the best around at the moment, bassist Matthew Karas, in his paisley jacket, his spidery fingers moving across his fretboard, is impassive behind his shades until he suddenly grabs a harmonica during the excellent "Passing By" and blasts a riff before chucking it over his shoulder. Drummer Bill Lewington is a real powerhouse and he plays with such venom that the 12 Bar floor is often littered with cracked drumsticks. The band play a superb selection of tracks from all three of their faultless albums with my highlights being "Against The Grain", "I Made a Mistake" and "Sylvie Says". They play some new tracks too with "Prodigal Sun" and "Lavender Girl" paving the way to a promising fourth album that will hopefully be out soon. The band get a well deserved encore and launch into the classic debut single "Trouble".

The Monochrome Set by Paul Slattery

The Monochrome Set take the stage to that familiar tribal drum beat "The Monochrome Set (I Presume") which boasts one of the best intros ever, the guitars build and we are off on a fantastic voyage through the band's back catalogue, twenty one songs in all taken from all eras. The recent songs from "Platinum Coils" and new album "Super Plastic City" sit pretty amongst all those much loved classics and are just as well received. Lester is sporting an eye-catching blue and white diamond suit and spins out these wonderful guitar riffs, as much Ennio Morricone, Surf music and Joe Meek as The Velvet Underground. Bid is in fine voice and spirits and has a beautiful twelve string red semi-acoustic Baldwin guitar and I realized that he doesn't really get enough credit for his guitar playing either. Andy Warren is as impassive as ever, legs crossed, gazing out into the middle distance and you wonder how he can stand so still whilst producing such an amazing sound from his bass. Drummer Steve Brummell with his fez and shades is excellent and I think this stripped-back four-piece is one of the best line-ups I have seen. The "big hit" "Jet Set Junta" is up next and then two tracks from "Super Plastic City", the title track and the superb "Lefty". 

Andy Warren by Paul Slattery

One of my all-time favourite tracks "Alphaville" is next before "Hip Kitten, Spinning Chrome" and "Streams" from "Platinum Coils" reinforce the strength of the new material. There's a nice surprise in "Walking With The Beast" from the thoroughly magnificent "Dante's Casino" album and it's Latino rhythm sparks off a mild "frenzy" of Dad dancing at the front of the stage. It's brilliant, the band are known to be the quintessential "Indie" band but they sure know how to get people to dance. After all that activity I was hoping for "Goodbye Joe" to slow the blood pressure down a bit but no, it's straight into "The Lighter Side of Dating" and we're off again, someone get me a seat! The ode to cross-dressing "Christine" from "Charade" is a perfectly realised Kinks-style vignette that raises a smile. There's a brief hint of The Monkees in the opening riff to "The Time I've Spent Doing Nothing" and then it's back in time to the shimmering intro to "Love Goes Down The Drain", one of The Monochrome Set's most enduring songs. "Waiting For Alberto" touches on Bid's time in hospital following his stroke, waiting for a welcome visit and the standard bag of fruit and I must say that being amongst a crowd singing "I hope it's not bananas, bananas make me ill!" was quite bizarre.

Lester Square by Paul Slattery

"Ici Les Enfants" from "Strange Boutique" leads into the sing-along "Cowboy Country", what is it all about by the way? Next up, "Jacob's Ladder" and then it is the classic "Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" with it's grinding bass line that closes the main set in some style. The band are called back and play "The Wilderness" from "Dante's Casino" before slamming into "He's Frank" and off they go again...but it's not enough for the crowd and the band return with the sinister rumblings of "They Call Me Silence" and the always wonderful "The Devil Rides Out". "Hail" echo the crowd, yes indeed, all hail The Monochrome Set! Tonight was one of the best shows I have seen the band play and with the wealth of excellent new material at their side the future looks very promising for the band indeed. 

Steve Brummell by Paul Slattery

Rob Green of The Fallen Leaves by Paul Slattery

The Monochrome Set by Paul Slattery

Rob Symmons of The Fallen Leaves by Paul Hughes

Bid by Paul Hughes

The Monochrome Set by Paul Slattery

The Fallen Leaves by Paul Slattery

With thanks to Bid, Lester, Andy and Steve, The Fallen Leaves, Caryne & Dave, Carrie, Joe & Anthony at The Half Moon, photographers Paul Slattery and Paul Hughes - "Hail!". For more of Paul Hughes' photographs of the night please check out his Flickr page here. You can also see more photos at the Retro Man Blog Facebook page - head over here and hit "Like" for access to the album.

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 14: Steve from Retro Man Blog, Rock Photographer Paul Slattery and Adam from The Jetsonics with an eclectic mix of goodies from the Retrosonic record box...In this Episode there's a track from The Monochrome Set's latest album "Super Plastic City" and news about our gig with the band on May 24th at The Half Moon Putney, there's scary tales from Killing Joke gigs and a classic slice of KJ Dub. Paul and Adam talk about the good old days at The Nashville and pick a couple of their favourite bands who played at the legendary venue. There's a new one from Shack and Pale Fountains front man Michael Head with The Red Elastic Band, power pop at it's best from Cotton Mather and old school Rockabilly from Walter Brown & His Band. Some Slap Shot inspired Ice Hockey Punk from The Hanson Brothers and a tuneful blast from Hot Hooves. There's talk about Hamburg's Neue Deutsche Welle scene and some German Psych Soul from The Soul Explosion and the Surf Guitar twang of Dresden's The Roaring 420s...If that's not enough there's sleazy guitar boogie from Eagles of Death Metal and a Psychobilly Garage Rock opener from The Things...Listen or download below...Enjoy!

Tickets for our Retro Man Blog Night at The Half Moon Putney on Saturday May 24th are available from the box office here at the special advance purchase price of only £12.50.

Retro Man Blog Presents: The Monochrome Set with The Fallen Leaves at The Half Moon Putney May 24th

We are very proud to announce that our first Retro Man Blog Night of the year at The Half Moon Putney will feature The Monochrome Set with special guests The Fallen Leaves. This will be on Saturday May 24th from 8pm with advance tickets at only £12.50 and tickets on the door at £14.50.  The Monochrome Set are one of the most enduring bands to have emerged from the early Punk days, here is a bit of background of how it all started. Primordial soup: Andy Warren and Bid went to school together, Lester Square and Adam Ant both attended Hornsey School of Art. The latter two formed a band called "The B-Sides", which Andy joined sometime in 1976. Bid also joined a couple of months later, and Adam left shortly after. Lester, Andy and Bid occasionally continued to write and rehearse together (it was around this time that some of the songs later to be used by The Monochrome Set were written, e.g., Goodbye Joe, He's Frank, Puerto-Rican Fence Climber, Lester Leaps In), until Adam formed The Ants with Lester and Andy. 

The Monochrome Set at Bush Hall 2013 - Photo by Retro Man Blog

Whilst Andy continued on with Adam to record the first Ants album, Lester left The Ants in 1977, to form, firstly The Zarbies & The Ectomorphs with Bid and Jeremy Harrington, and then The Monochrome Set with Bid (Jeremy joined later). To quote the Asahi Evening News, 1993: "When B-Sides singer Adam Ant quit the band for an ill-fated solo career, The Monochrome Set was born." The Monochrome Set are probably one of the most quintessentially "Independent" bands, totally unique, they have endured all kinds of fads and fashions along the way and, as proven with their latest album "Super Plastic City, are currently producing some of their best ever work. Along the way they have inspired countless Indie guitar bands and acts as diverse as Franz Ferdinand and Fatboy Slim and been covered by Iggy Pop. Expect to hear tracks from the new album along with a selection of classics from their hugely impressive back catalogue.

The Monochrome Set Dingwalls 2012 - Photo by Retro Man Blog

The Fallen Leaves have a similar pedigree, guitarist Rob Symmons was in the Subway Sect along with Vic Godard and was responsible for those scathing guitar riffs on early Punk classics such as "Nobody's Scared" and "Ambition". One of the very first bands on the scene, they shared rehearsal space and a manager with The Clash. Fallen Leaves vocalist Rob Green also appeared in a latter incarnation of Subway Sect, bassist Matthew Karas can also be found is Glassglue and drummer William Lewington in The Band of Holy Joy. The band have a regular club night "Minimum R'n'B" at the 12 Bar Club in London on the first Wednesday of every month. You can listen to the Fallen Leaves' fascinating history, which takes in those very early Punk days with characters and bands such as Bernie Rhodes, Sex Pistols, Joe Strummer, Malcolm McLaren, Billy Childish and The Downliners Sect. The two episodes are generously sound-tracked with many Fallen Leaves songs and a pick of the band's favourite tracks. Here's episode 1 "Punk Rock for Gentlemen".

The Half Moon is at 93 Lower Richmond Road, London SW15 1EU and you can pre-order tickets here or call the venue directly on 0208 780 9383. Doors open at 8pm.

The Monochrome Set: New Album "Super Plastic City" & U.K Tour...

Photo by Steve Brummell

Here's a quiz for you: What do all British indie bands – ancient (The Smiths) and modern (Arctic Monkeys) - have in common?

1. Funny haircuts
2. An interesting wardrobe
3. The Monochrome Set

If 3 is your answer you win today's STAR PRIZE – a copy of 'Super Plastic City', The Monochrome Set's eleventh, and latest, long-playing record. Well you don't really, but you can buy it!

They say that history is written by the victors, in which case The Monochrome's thrilling and vertiginous past should add up to an open top ticker-tape parade through the boulevards of rock 'n roll, because they've just produced their finest album, and you, dear listener are going to enjoy an ear-expanding tour of "How It Should Be". Written on the back of party leader Bid's recovery from a life-threatening brain aneurysm ('What's this/Is it a bird or a plane/What's this/No, it's a rewiring brain',) "Super Plastic City" mines a deep vein of influences to produce a unique ore in which melancholy, wit and wordplay dance together on a floor made of solid tongue and groove – and there are more hooks here than in a bait and tackle shop. 

Photo by Dor

It was The Kinks who first took that unique quality of Englishness – a mixture of the miserable and the optimistic - and gave it a voice, and there are echoes of those pioneers in some of these songs ("The Time I've Spent Doing Nothing"), just as the ghost of The Lords of Lounge - Bacharach and David - haunts the sinuous grooves of "If I Could be Woebegone". But references to the past give only a few clues to the treasure hunt that is "Super Plastic City". "I Dream of Spring", an account of awakening from – perhaps – a near-death experience, set to a waltz-like cadence and dressed in shimmering West Coast style guitar glissandos, is one of the most moving songs you'll ever hear, whilst the stomping "Handed-Down Memory" wistfully examines the sum of all our pasts and parts and what they sometimes reduce to. These are just a few of the iced gems to be found here – there are 11 in all, each one attesting to The Monochrome Set's shrugged individuality and dedication to eclecticism. If "Super Plastic City" were the product of a bunch of twenty-somethings it would be hailed as The Second Coming, nominated for prizes galore and be heard pumping out of radios and ear goggles, and rightly so. For the record, then, the band's ages vary from 18 to 23, they come from Venus, this is really their debut album, and you'll know it to be the best album of 2013 once you've heard it. Now that IS the truth. - Hab Hankin 

You can buy the album from The Monochrome Set & Scarlett's Well official store here. The band will head out on a nationwide tour, starting off in Edinburgh tomorrow October 19th, taking in Stockton 20th, Glasgow 21st, Preston 22nd, Liverpool 23rd, Birmingham 24th, Oxford 25th and Bristol on the 26th - please check out the Tour Dates section for for details on tickets and venues. The band will then play at 229 The Venue in London on November 23rd. Please check out our review and photos of The Monochrome Set gig back in April at London's Bush Hall on the Blog here. For a full set of photos of the gig head on over to the Retro Man Blog Facebook page and hit "Like".  With thanks to Bid. Photos courtesy of The Monochrome Set.

The Monochrome Set: Live at Bush Hall, London April 27th

Bid & Lester Square of The Monochrome Set - Photo Steve Worrall

The Monochrome Set played a wonderful gig in the rather ornate Bush Hall, it was a perfectly balanced set-list with a choice selection of old favourites and tracks from their latest, and rather excellent, album "Platinum Coils". The first support act were the splendid Indie-Pop band, Would-Be-Goods, who happened to feature Monochrome Set bassist Andy Warren putting in an impressive double shift, and guitarist Peter Momtchiloff moonlighting from the rather more raucous Hot Hooves, who recently featured on the Blog here. Next up was Stuart Moxham, once of Young Marble Giants, who unfortunately failed to hold the attention and a large part of the crowd seemed to drift off to the bar. Maybe it was because I'm not familiar with any of Stuart's recent material and maybe it was the somewhat weak sound, along with having to follow the more compatible Would-Be-Goods, that didn't do him any favours. It also all went on just a bit too long and there were murmurings of impatience around me.



Andy Warren & Helena Johansson - by Steve Worrall

Suddenly it was over and after a short pause, a character dressed as "Where's Wally" appeared on the stage and took their place behind the drums. The familiar tribal beat of "The Monochrome Set (I Presume)" kicked in and the band appeared all dressed in black. All apart from Lester that is, who sported a rather fetching Black and White stripey suit and he struck up the buzzing guitar intro to the perfect set opener. This was followed by another track from "Strange Boutique", their superb debut album, the saucy tongue twister "The Lighter Side of Dating". "Jet Set Junta" and a brilliant run through of the classic spiky Post-Punk single "Alphaville", keep the die-hard fans happy and then it's into three songs from latest album "Platinum Coils". This album, in my view is probably their strongest and most complete album since "Eligible Bachelors", and in particular "Hip Kitten Spinning Chrome" can easily hold its own amongst their "classic" material". Tonight this comes over brilliantly and "Cauchemar" and "Streams" follow seamlessly.

Lester & Bid of The Monochrome Set - Photo by Steve Worrall

I was pleasantly surprised that they played "Walking With The Beast" from one of my favourite albums "Dante's Casino", driven by a rollicking Samba beat, it was one of my highlights of the night. Next we have a triple hit from the faultless "Eligible Bachelors" album - "Fun For All The Family", "I'll Scry Instead" and "The Ruling Class". Then we are brought bang up to date with two more tracks from "Platinum Coils", firstly "I'm Happy To Be Here" and the brilliant "Waiting For Alberto" which has had me singing "I hope it's not bananas..."  to myself, and probably a few passing strangers, all week. Some non-album tracks follow; "Wallflower", "Cowboy Country", the 'big hit' "Jacob's Ladder" and then the grinding brilliance of "Eine Symphonie des Grauens" closes the show.


Photo by Steve Worrall

Due to the time restraints Bid said, "we've come to the end of the set and as we don't have much time, just pretend we've gone off stage and come back on again...", before heading straight into the songs marked for an encore. We were treated to a beautiful rendition of "Goodbye Joe" and then a thundering romp through "He's Frank" before the band had to finish rather abruptly. Abrupt was the word of the day as we couldn't even get a beer in the bar afterwards as it shut bang on 11 and we were then, rather unceremoniously herded out by security - Saturday night, London, Rock 'n' Roll...!

Despite my slight misgivings about the Bush Hall, I felt that this was one of best shows I have seen from The Monochrome Set in recent years, the band were tight and the set list was a fan's dream, well probably all except for one fan, who's persistent calls for "Fat Fun" went unanswered. But with such a huge back catalogue packed full of so many delights, you're not going to please everyone all of the time, although I am sure tonight the band came pretty damn close. The band will play in Madrid on May 18th before heading off to America for some dates. They will return to the U.K. for a show at London Cargo on July 13th with more dates to follow later in the year. Please check out  the band's web-site for more details on the shows.

Would-Be-Goods - Photo by Steve Worrall

A cheeky Bid - Photo by Steve Worrall

Steve Brummell - Photo by Steve Worrall

For more photographs of both The Monochrome Set and Would-Be-Goods, head on over to the Retro Man Blog Facebook page and hit "Like"  for access to the photo album. We played a track from The Monochrome Set's latest album "Platinum Coils" back in Episode 3 of Retrosonic Podcast.

The Monochrome Set live at Camden Dingwalls April 29th

The Monochrome Set live at Dingwalls - Photo by Steve Worrall

It felt a bit like returning to the scene of a crime, it was after all not even a year ago since I was at Dingwalls witnessing a Monochrome Set gig. At that time I'd only just started the Blog and the subsequent review was to teach me a swift lesson. If I was going to write and publish my thoughts then I'd better get my facts right, do my research and not forget that old maxim, "only write what you know about". The thing is, there are some bands you follow through thick and thin - you sign up to newsletters, collect records, join fan-clubs, know all the collaborations and off-shoots and even the side projects of the session guy who played the trombone on side two of the difficult third album. Unfortunately, I was never like that with The Monochrome Set, as with many bands I like, if I saw they were touring I'd go and see them and if they had a new album out I would buy it, but I didn't really keep up to date with their comings and goings. Anyway, I loved that show, which was full of old classics, but I did mention in the review that I would have liked to have heard more songs from their superb mid-period albums such as "Dante's Casino" and "Jack". I also bemoaned the fact that it was a shame that they hadn't played live for such a long time. I published the review and also posted a link in the band's Fan Forum as I thought it might be of interest.

Photo by Steve Worrall

I was somewhat surprised to receive a response from singer Bid himself, it was a charming message "You're quite right about the lack of "mid-period" songs. Most of the set had already been rehearsed as a 4-piece last Spring, before my stroke. Then, after I recovered, we decided to add keyboards (Jon), which would have given us the "width" to play this material - but I still wasn't up to rehearsing properly until the beginning of this year. With one thing and another, we had little time to properly rehearse any songs other than the ones we had chosen the previous Spring. But, we will be looking at these over this summer". A stroke...? Bloody hell, a stroke! That was when I learnt that little lesson, I felt a bit guilty about my minor gripes and vowed that if I was going to carry on with this Blog thing that I really needed to do a little bit more research. It turned out that in the summer of 2010 Bid suffered what is known as an "aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage" and had to endure a 5 hour operation. One of the processes of the treatment was to shoot platinum coils into the affected area, hence the title of the brand new album. 

Andy Warren - by Steve Speight

So, a year later and it's back to Dingwalls and The Monochrome Set and as we get our wrists stamped at the box office I see Bid standing in the doorway, maybe I was going to get my wrists slapped! But I've never met him before so I would be OK...however, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to introduce myself. I also wanted to say thank you for exclusive access to the new album as we were to play a track on the Retrosonic Podcast. In fact, I had to apologise about that as, due to some technical problems and what with the album release being brought forward, we were too late to claim an "exclusive". Ah, well I don't seem to have much luck when it comes to The Monochrome Set! Bid was charming, and the thing that struck me was that he looks so damn healthy, and after all he went through. It must take immense courage and determination, not to mention some fine work from the medical team, to be able to get to the stage when...well, when he can get up on a stage! The band appear to the familiar tribal drumming and drone guitar (with Lester using a rather novel implement in place of an E-Bow...) and it's into "The Monochrome Set (I Presume)". The band are on fire, now featuring be-Fez'd drummer Steve Brummell and violinist Helena Johansson - who also adds mandolin to great effect on some songs - alongside original members Bid, Andy Warren and Lester Square, they sound much more powerful and tight than I've ever seen before. The set list is a mix of early crowd favourites along with a good smattering of new tracks from the excellent "Platinum Coils". "Lighter Side of Dating" gives way to "Jet Set Junta" which is followed by one of my favourite tracks "Alphaville"...it's a superb sequence. 

Photo by Steve Worrall

Then Bid announces they will play a few new songs, and with some bands that can lead to a mass exodus to the bar, not this time! For those in the crowd that had heard the new album would have been well aware that the new tracks are as strong as anything they have released it the past. The songs are also not so different in style to their faultless classic "Eligible Bachelors", a large chunk of which is played tonight, so there is a seamless and natural flow to the set, from old numbers to new. "Platinum Coils" in its entirety is already, to me feeling as strong an album as "Bachelors", it's one of those records that just works as a whole. From the overall sound and production, the superb songwriting with its host of catchy and memorable numbers right through to the fantastic packaging with the silver foil style, lyric poster and wonderful cover artwork from Lester. 

Photo by Steve Worrall

The aforementioned cover art, which shows a myriad of unusual objects emerging from Bid's head, along with the title's reference to "Platinum Coils", shows that Bid is tackling his life-threatening experience head on, if you pardon the expression...The lyrics are the usual wry and humorous observations, for example on "I Can't Control My Feet", you can imagine Bid's impatience with being confined to a hospital bed as he could be hallucinating, "I went to the party with my three friends, a nurse and a porter and a guy with no hands, but if I hear that Oxy-pump I'd have to jump and leave my seat". Tonight, it's a joyous number and one of the real highlights of the set for me. On "Waiting For Alberto", again that sense of boredom seeps out as he hopes that his next visitor will bring some pears or apples or exotic fruits, except bananas as "they make him ill", it's a perfect example of the self-deprecating wit in Bid's lyrics. The set comes to a close with a superb run through of "Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" which features one of the best bass lines ever, and then it's over all too soon! The crowd demand more and they return for two well deserved encores which included "He's Frank" and "The Mating Game", then it's over and the venue shuts the bar and kicks everyone out rather unceremoniously into the night! A bit of a shame as I could have done with a beer to relax a bit and take it all in. But what a night, and what a performance - certainly the best I have seen the band play, and judging from the huge smiles and extremely happy crowd piling past me to the exits, I guess I wasn't the only one to think so. So, now I have learnt my lesson, The Monochrome Set deserve far more from me than a passing interest and the odd gig and record purchase...I am hooked and won't make the mistake of missing out on their future adventures again!

Lester Square - Photo by Steve Speight

You can hear a track from the new Monochrome Set album on Episode 2 of Retrosonic Podcast. 

Thanks to Steve Speight for the photos of Lester & Andy, please check out more of Steve's excellent photos at his Flickr Site.

News: The Monochrome Set new album "Platinum Coils" + Tour Dates

"Platinum Coils" album cover designed by Lester Square

After a seventeen-year absence, The Monochrome Set return with their new CD, "Platinum Coils", the band's tenth studio album, and the long awaited follow up to 1995's "Trinity Road". Realising success from the outset with their first single "Alphaville" back in 1979, The Monochrome Set were one of the first wave of ‘post-punk’ bands. A sixteen-year career followed, with memorable singles, "Eine Symphonie des Grauens", "The Monochrome Set", "The Jet Set Junta", "Jacob’s Ladder" and a whole bunch of classic LPs, "Strange Boutique", "Love Zombies", "Eligible Bachelors" and "Lost Weekend" (to name but a few), along the way.

Right from the beginning, the band earned a solid reputation as purveyors of fine pop, gaining praise from ‘80s contemporaries such as Morrissey and Edwyn Collins. Importantly, in later years, this praise has continued with artists such as Franz Ferdinand, the Divine Comedy and Graham Coxon, all citing the band as a key influence on their own work. The Monochrome Set sound has often been described as ‘timeless’, and that alone explains why, over the years, the band has continued gaining admirers.

The new twelve track CD, "Platinum Coils", possesses all the hallmarks of a classic work, and for those already acquainted with the bands back catalogue, it will contain a warming familiarity, but, that said, more importantly, it shows that the band are both unafraid to break new ground and not prepared to trade on past accolade alone. Lyrically, The Monochrome Set have always been known for their witty and observant prose. ‘Platinum Coils’ is no different in this respect. Although perhaps just a touch more personal, largely focusing upon singer Bid’s recovery from a very serious illness. That said, it’s not a collection of melancholic, morbid or self-reflective ramblings it's much more, a witty, yet occasionally poignant, collection of snatched personal thoughts, born at a time of great duress. In short, all one might expect from Bid, albeit with a slight lyrical twist of the surgeon's knife. With "Platinum Coils", The Monochrome Set retain their ‘trade mark’ sound, whilst also, excitingly, advancing it into new areas. For those encountering the group for the first time, "Platinum Coils" will offer a rich treasure trove of pop gems, and will perhaps just as excitingly, point the uninitiated listener towards the bands rich back catalogue.

The album is due for release on Disquo Bleu Records on April 01st and the track listing is "Hip Kitten Spinning Chrome", "I Can't Control My Feet", "Waiting For Alberto", "On My Balcony", "Free Free Free", "Mein Kapitan", "Cauchemar", "They Call Me Silence", "Les Cowboys", "Streams", "I'm Happy To Be Here" & "Brush With Death".

Tour Dates

06/04/12 - Stereo, Glasgow, UK
07/04/12 - Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, UK
08/04/12 - The Duchess, York, UK
09/04/12 - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, UK
10/04/12 - Band on the Wall, Manchester, UK
11/04/12 - Buffalo Bar, Cardiff, UK
12/04/12 - The Green Door Store, Brighton, UK
13/04/12 - The Greystones, Sheffield, UK
14/04/12 - The Thunderbolt, Bristol, UK
16/04/12 - King Georg, Cologne, Germany
17/04/12 - Club Schocken, Stuttgart, Germany
18/04/12 - Hirsch, Nürnberg, Germany
19/04/12 - Fundbureau, Hamburg, Germany
29/04/12 - Dingwalls, London, UK

12/05/12 - Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival @ Docker's Club, Belfast, UK
19/05/12 - Music Hall, Barcelona, Spain
04/08/12 - Rebellion Festival, Blackpool, UK

You can read a review of last June's Monochrome Set gig at Dingwalls in the Blog Archive HERE.