ALBUM REVIEW: Beyond The Past – MONO

Anyone with even a passing familiarity with post-rock has heard the name MONO. Over twenty years, ten albums along with several EPs and splits, the band have carved out a niche all their own in cinematic, expressive post-rock heavily influenced by classical music. They’ve occasionally played with live orchestras, too, albeit rarely, which has led to them being infrequent but incredibly special occasions. That meant when they announced that for their twentieth anniversary they would put on a 3-day extravaganza featuring bands across the spectrum of post- genres, including SVALBARD, ALCEST and BORIS and capping off with MONO playing alongside the Platinum Anniversary Orchestra, the excitement was palpable. 

Billed as Beyond The Past, MONO’s show at the legendary London Barbican to 2000 dedicated fans in 2019 was truly an experience and a sight to behold. Not merely content with putting on such an incredible show, the band subsequently announced it was to be recorded and released as a live album of the same name. While it doesn’t capture the visual spectacle, it does capture the majesty and magic of their all-encompassing sound incredibly well. 

The orchestra opens God Bless in serene fashion and the crowd are audibly enraptured – they’ve been left in rather than excised from the recording and it adds to the celebratory atmosphere. Tempting as it may be to describe it as the calm before the storm, that’s not quite true of MONO. Their classical-infused post-rock, while it certainly does contain many tempestuous moments – not least After You’s opening moments – the instrumental nature lends a far more calming atmosphere that enraptures and ensnares. 

A critique that was levelled by fans who attended the show itself was that the orchestra themselves were too quiet and often overwhelmed by the band. It’s difficult to agree with this; live engineer Matt Cook’s mix and the mastering job done by Bob Weston are superlative. Songs ebb and flow beautifully, taking MONO’s already expansive sound and elevating it to a brand new plane where there is naught but the all-encompassing sound. 

It permeates every fibre of being, both serene and roiling as it shifts between the calm waters of Breathe or the swirling maelstrom of Death In Rebirth. A.A. WILLIAMS features on Exit In Darkness that follows on from a song synonymous with MONO, Ashes In the Snow. The setlist is a celebration of all eras of their career, showcasing exactly why they’re one of the best post-rock bands in the world. 

Rating: 8/10

Beyond The Past: Live in London with the Platinum Anniversary Orchestra is set for release March 19th via Pelagic Records. 

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