The Monochrome Set were definitely a band that had passed me by in the olden days. I was well aware of them – my local record shop in the early 80s, Downtown Records in Romford, used to publish a “local” chart in the local paper, which was quite a novelty at the time. I remember the chart used to be almost identical to the national chart instead of the frequent inclusion of Monochrome Set singles and albums in their top tens – not bad for a band who’d peaked at no.62 in 1980. I was convinced that someone in the shop just loved the band and were scandolously dumping them in, defying all chart audits. Anyway, 32 years later and they’re still going strong, and their new offering gave me a chance to check them out for the first time, and it’s really rather good. Nice album artwork too!
Group X – There Are 8 Million Cossack Melodies And This Is One Of Them
Midway Still – Note To Self
Herida – Elias
Dingus Khan – Made A List
Happiness Factor – The In-Crowd
Dinosaur Jr – Watch The Corners
Herida – Refrain
Bleech – I Wanna Be Me
Casiokids – Dresinen
Fashoda Crisis – He’s Got Gills
Le Monnier – ET
Toy – Motoring
Vile Electrodes – Re-Emerge
Herida – Pyro
Jethro Tull – Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square
Modovar – Darkest Shadows
Monochrome Set – Hip Kitten Spinning Chrome
Nada Surf – Waiting For Something
Public Service Broadcasting – Dig For Victory
Monochrome Set – Cauchemar
Neo – Phoenix Lane
Skunk Anansie – I Believed In You
Boy – Drive Darling
Colorama – Delaware
Shiny Darkness – The Sound Of Basildon (Phoenix FM session 23-06-2012)
Hypnotic Eye – Marianne
Metric – Speed The Collapse
Monochrome Set – Waiting For Alberto
Little Roy – Lithium