Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 4/11/2013
Label : Napalm Records
1). Icarus 14:58
2). Suns 08:273). Birth of Venus 05:16
4). Pintao 04:36
5). Once We Were.. 08:48
6). Circles 06:50
Bio
:
With their fourth album – "The 5th Sun" – the Swiss
band MONKEY3 presents the definition of psychedelic Stoner Rock. The seven
sweeping compositions combine Stoner Rock vibe and riffs in the vein of
PORCUPINE TREE, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN and their label mates MY SLEEPING
KARMA with trippy Psychedelic influences. The experienced quartett turn this
numerous styles into a perfect sound, which will welcomes new and old listeners
alike. The sonic world of MONKEY3 is nothing less than breathtaking, and the
new album will bring the band its well deceived recognition!
The
Band :
Walter | Drums
Picasso | Bass
Boris | Guitar
dB | Keys
Picasso | Bass
Boris | Guitar
dB | Keys
Review :
Monkey3
hail from Lausanne, Switzerland and play very spacey stoner/trippy/proggy
rock/metal. If you enjoy anything from classic Hawkwind to karma to Burn you
are going to enjoy this...
There are no vocals on this record; just bass, drums, guitar and keys. Human voices can be heard in opener Icarus, but don't be expecting hook laden choruses. The opener runs for near 15 minutes and takes in grooves, throbbing electro ambience and serves to generated a rather “2001” type vibe. The production is top notch and the sound thick with all elements coming through well.
Suns follows with well
over 8 minutes of space rock (possibly on the edge of time!). A pulsating
rhythm takes hold and the track builds as the key sounds pan from left to
right. It's atmospheric and evokes travel/space/time for me- without ever being
aggressive or dark necessarily. “The 5th Sun” is, appropriately,
Monkey3's fifth album and their maturity and experience shine through in the
way they utilise dynamics and employ Nebula-type grooves with swirling overlays
of keyboard.
Birth
of Venus
is heavy from the off and is one of the shorter tracks on the record. Choppy
riffs are followed by mechanised sounds and rolling bass. The tempo is slowed
and the groove that sets in is rather menacing – only to be lightened slightly
by a nice clean guitar line. The band surely knows how to work as a unit and
employ the full gamut of sounds at their disposal. The album is certainly not
one dimensional as grooves are locked into but then subtly evolve as the track
progresses. Pintao has the
shortest song length of the album and gets right to it with a rather Fu Manchu
opening- until the keyboard kicks in, that is. The keys provide a rather
creeping sense of dread while the bass gets a chance to explore the fretboard a
little (great tone, incidentally).
Once
We Were... has
a slightly more frenetic pace and feel to the riffing and instrumentation in
general and offers something different because of this. Some widdly soloing
surfaces, pleasingly, and then the whole thing comes to a stop before a much
more melodic section takes hold. The refrain gets gradually weightier with
crashing cymbals and the guitars gaining weight and thickness- a very effective
build up before the dissolution of the final seconds. Circles closes the
record on a rather sombre note as the music drifts in an almost jazzy style.
The band plays deftly and then crashes in with full force and tempo changes.
The closing passages evoked hope and perhaps rays of light or similar for me-
triumphant stuff.
Should
you be looking for a spacey instrumental record with just the right amount of
bite, then this is the album for you. Excellent stuff- and the perfect antidote
to these long winter evenings. The album comes in multiple formats- including
some pretty cool coloured vinyl sets. Ideal.
Words by : Richard Maw
You
can buy it here
https://www.facebook.com/monkey3band
