Mono

You Are There

[5/5] Despite the relative success of bands like Mogwai and Pelican, there’s still a certain stigma attached to instrumental music–and with good reason. While often technically impressive, many bands have trouble keeping listeners engaged for an album’s length without having a narrator to guide them along, though there are exceptions–among the most notable of whom are Mono. Picking up where 2004’s breathtaking Walking Cloud… left off, You Are There is another instrumental masterpiece from this Japanese quintet, full of dynamic shifts that are so subtle, the slow crescendo from a muted bass line to a full-on feedback freak-out is nearly imperceptible until it’s finally blaring out of your speakers. With six songs averaging 10 minutes each, You Are There probably isn’t for casual rock fans–but if you’re looking for music that transcends language and culture, well, this is it.
(TEMPORARY RESIDENCE LTD.) Jonah Bayer