Firmly placed as both progenitor and progressor within their field, MONO is like no other artist – visceral, engrossing and showing no signs of decay after two decades spent creating waves of beautiful and expansive rock music. Many an artist lays claim to setting the template – or many have this claim placed upon them – but this Japanese artist has long-since simply set their own template. Listening to MONO is like entering another world, where the majesty of the noise embraces you and the delicacy of the space around it breathes warmly in your ear.
A.A. Williams came from nowhere. An EP arrived in January 2019, and a debut show at the prestigious Roadburn Festival three months later confirmed what this first taste of music had suggested: this is a special artist. The woman in black: one arm aloft after the delicate yet decisive strum of a chord, a stillness in the room focused on the graceful soaring of a unique voice. To arrive so fully formed is a feat in itself; to take the audience’s breath away with such immediacy is something else entirely.
As soon as MONO’s Takaakira ‘Taka’ Goto heard the music of A.A. Williams, an unwavering resonance was triggered. For A.A. Williams, the appreciation was emphatically mutual. A musical connection developed into a collaboration; introductions were made, ideas exchanged. At the end of MONO’s 2019 summer tour, these ideas were committed to tape in London and the result is ‘Exit in Darkness’ – a mesmeric coming together of two artists from opposite ends of the globe whose creative approach could not have melded more eloquently.
Mono say about A.A. Williams “A.A. Williams is like a black swan that melts into the minor code. Her light-seeking breath is really beautiful. We wanted to collaborate and create a new kind of music that’s neither MONO or AAW.”
A.A. Williams comments “ This collaboration has always felt very natural. Taka and I found many points of synergy as we considered each other’s musical language, not only did our methods and intentions complement each other, but we were also able to lead each other to new ideas. Exit In Darkness is a crystallisation of our priorities, to create something emotional and beautiful, and to stay true to our own musical identities whilst exploring new territory.”
Exit In Darkness, the single, is out now. Exit In Darkness, the EP, will be digitally released on December 13 with a special 10 inch vinyl available on January 24. Mono will be Touring Australia in March 2020.
TOUR DATES
Wed, March 4: Rosemount Hotel, Perth Tickets
Thu, March 5: The Gov, Adelaide Tickets
Fri, March 6: Max Watts, Melbourne Tickets
Sat, March 7: Metro Theatre, Sydney Tickets
Sun, March 8: The Triffid, Brisbane Tickets
Presented by The Bird’s Robe Collective & TheMusic
Tickets from
birdsrobe.com & monoofjapan.com
