The Monochrome Set :: Compendium 75-95 (A History 1979-95)
Hailing from late 1970s London, England, The Monochrome Set weren’t just any coming-of-age new wave/post-punk band of their time; instead, they acted as a total force of creativity with a lifespan that has stretched across the better part of half a century, along with three reincarnations under their belt to boot. A sonic staple in the genre’s global gesture to all things silvery in style, sophisticated sound, and fundamental formation in the rich reaction to total artistic anarchy, the band and its original members Indian-born lead singer and principal writer Bid (Ganesh Seshadri), Canadian-based guitarist Lester Square (Thomas W.B. Hardy), John D. Haney (formerly of The Art Attacks, and brother of Crass member Joy de Vivre) and bassist Charlie X, all took on a voluminous vow to embrace the harmonious horns of the biblical bull, and straddle it, while riding straight into the nocturnal nerve central of culture, and poetic politics. Forming from the atmospheric ashes of the short-lived college-based outfit The B-Sides, which featured the legendary Stuart Goddard, later known as Adam Ant, the group eventually metamorphosed into The Monochrome Set, playing their very first gig in February of 1978, before releasing their highly acclaimed debut album in 1980 entitled “Strange Boutique” on the Virgin Records’ imprint Dindisc. Capturing that similar crystal-like cohesiveness of peers like Magazine, The Fall, Television, The Clash, Pere Ubu, and several others, the band ultimately bridged the gap between the more embracive elements of punk with the sonic situations of pure science fiction.
Breaking lyrical laws, while setting straight the smooth undertones of pop and its pulverizing power, the band had undergone several lineup changes in its early existence. While recording the group’s most monumentally merciless masterpieces, such as “Love Zombies,” “Eligible Bachelors,” the band’s Cherry Red debut, and “Lost Weekend,” The Monochrome Set found themselves at #62 on the UK Albums Chart, eventually establishing an eager existence within the band, and its more alchemical approach to the art. Later, inspiring future founders, and members of The Smiths, Morrissey, and Johnny Marr, which in retrospect should be acknowledged on a much greater scale, you can hear several future sounds within the band’s critical cortex, and just how impactful their imperial influence is. “Compendium 75-95 (A History 1979-1995),” the captivating compilation originally released in 1996 on Cherry Red, bravely scratches the surface of the band by iconically introducing the more eclectic pieces throughout the dynamic of their discography. From their debut singles on Rough Trade to the double exposure Peel Sessions of 1979 and 1980, various demos, and material from the group’s first reformation in the 1990s. Featuring tracks like “405 Lines,” “Cast A Long Shadow,” the album’s opener “He’s Frank (Slight Return),” ”Forever Young,” and “Leather Jacket,” the album ultimately embodies the electrifying essence of the band, and their trailblazing tonality in all its glory.
