A record full of the same kind of utterly unique pop that's anchored their earlier albums, Lotus Bridge is the new one from The Monochrome Set. Centered around the vocals of Bid, and based on his dreams and dream-inspired concepts, this is music that is special, and which fits in with the particularly compelling discography of this most seminal of UK post-punk groups.
The galloping title cut opens the record, while the lush "Diaphanous" carries this record's dream-centered concept forward. Lotus Bridge is a little Moody Blues-y, but it works if you're a fan of this band. The gentle "Map of the Night Sky" and the soaring closer "Our Sweet Souls" were the standouts for me here. Those tracks worked more than some of the more lugubrious passages of this concept album for this long-time fan.
From post-punk starts and now back to an approach that's quite classic rock, The Monochrome Set make their sonic adventures compelling for listeners. While Lotus Bridge is a far cry from their earlier material, the record still charms in its own odd way. Modestly pitched, this is a concept album that is still full of the idiosyncratic approach to pop that Bid and the band have always favored.
Lotus Bridge by The Monochrome Set is out now
[Photo: Ruth Tidmarsh]