Review Summary: Mono are as fine tuned as ever, but lacking the dark dramatics of their previous albums "For My Parents" makes for a divisive and somewhat disappointing listen.
To outright criticize Mono for a lack of originality would be an exercise in futility. After all, the Japanese post-rock band has stuck to their guns by producing the same album over and over again, with little to no change in sound or presentation. And while we as music listeners scoff at such unabashed stubbornness, there’s something undeniably endearing about such resilience. Mono do not change because there is no reason to. Like it or not, the band works like a fine tuned, well-oiled machine. All the parts work in accordance, as they have for the last decade. The bold dramatics that the band employs are a genre staple, which has been honed thanks to the addition of more instruments and cleverer songwriting. And while
For My Parents sees a return to all of this excellence, one cannot help but feel like Mono are somewhat muted. The pitch-perfect sound is still there, but missing is the heartrending emotion that has made the band such a powerful force.
For My Parents, as stated, is Mono playing Mono. The tremolo picked builds lead into the explosive climaxes much as they always have. The songs are massive, churning movements that test the listener’s patience as they grow at a crawling pace. Sadly it must be said that this time around the payoff isn’t equal to the investment. In 2009’s
Hymn to the Immortal Wind, the climaxes that ended each song were gargantuan, erupting in a wall of noise that felt both contained and all over the place. No matter how often one hears them, each time it is something to marvel. Yet here we find these moments to be somewhat diminished. Yes there are “big” endings, but compared to what the band has done before it all feels a bit trite. That evocative feeling they make one feel is replaced with simple admiration, as the band as seemingly forgotten how to captivate. More importantly,
For My Parents has some definite pacing issues that make extended listens a minor chore. At 60 minutes, the five song album features a lot of wasted space towards the end. Where the band has always exceled at utilizing each moment-even the silences-this time around there’s a lot of bloat, namely during the 15 minute “Unseen Harbor.” This issue plus the lacking climaxes adds up to some rather disappointing moments.
Mono have adhered strongly to their past, but with
For My Parent the band has changed up their tone considerably. Mono has always been a very dark band, with brooding sounds and ultra-warm tones. On the band’s sixth album things have shifted into noticeably brighter territory. The closer especially feels much more hopeful than anything else the band has done. It is a much lighter album, which is in part thanks to a less claustrophobic atmosphere. This may not be what many are expecting, but hearing the band in such a different light is actually incredibly refreshing, and helps the album from feeling too stale.
Despite the glaring issues with Mono’s latest album, it is not beyond reproach. As stated ad nauseum, this is a Mono album through and through, so much in fact that this reviewer felt déj* vu during some of the more lulling parts. Depending on one’s feelings towards the band, this will be a key factor in whether or not this is a worthwhile listen. For many, however, the promise of more music as beautiful as
You Are There and
Hymn to the Immortal Wind will be enough to dive right in once again.
