Following a string of records recorded with Steve Albini, Japanese band MONO were faced with a challenge in finding a new person to record their album following the legend's death. Snowdrop was recorded with Brad Wood and he brings out the precision in this quartet's music that is consistently compelling.
Opener "Snowdrop" is beautiful and then guitars crash in and add an element of agitation to the vibe. It's a quiet winner like early stuff from Mogwai. The lumbering "Winter Daphne" is even better, offering up post-rock with an accessible hook. Elsewhere, "Farewell to Spring" marries subtle-yet-precise drumming with guitar ruminations for a wonderful effect. There's both an inquisitiveness and a yearning in this piece that makes it quietly moving. "Statice", a highlight here, is flat-out lush, with a tune that opens up gloriously. And, "Bells of Ireland" stands as one of the most beautiful things this reviewer's heard in 2026.
The patterns in the selections on this MONO album are enticing. The band's brand of post-rock is elegant in a way, and less invested in chaos than, say, Slint were. And while there are similarities in the approach here to the best Mogwai efforts, MONO consistently chart their own path, preferring compositions where each player navigates a riff or melody until all four are brought together again in pursuit of something special and transcendent. Snowdrop is highly recommended.
Snowdrop by MONO is out on Friday. Details below.
[Photo: Bandcamp]