mono mono
Onnomon
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Posted : Sep 15, 2004 01:21
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ARTIST: Onnomon
RELEASE: No Monno
LABEL: Soular Records, SRCD005
Greetin's Cretans,
Hey! After a couple of years of exploring psy-trance and many of its sub-bubblings, tenderizing my earlobes, burning my retinae phosphor nerve endings, and performing various monkey manipulations, I've got over 78 minutes worth of original music shrink-wrapped in a 4-color digi-pak release. "No Monno" is an absurd title to what would seem to be a bombastic array of "Greek Tragedy" trance tunes. Like the ancient Hellenic playrights' epic tales of the heroic glory and subsequent downfall, by the end, these tracks will have your dirt-choked thirst gasping for that cup of hemlock. The tracks are quite diverse and somewhat musical (read notes and chords), ranging from 135 to 146 BPM ("Sleep Machine" is 70 BPM dub intro to 140 BPM "Dream Maker"). They're diverse because, as a dancer and listener to psy-trance, I enjoy all it's variations and have a desire to incorporate their elements into the tracks. I still don't lose sight of the concept of trance, that, at very least, a track should guide you into trance state, appealling to your inner heart, emotional gateway, certainly the hypothalamus part of the brain. But I am also appealed by the possibility of creating a listenable track, a cognitive-centric component; perhaps a leftover from my days playing progressive rock in the one of the world's most undancable bands "French TV" (www.frenchtvonline.com). These tracks may have a combination of the two, or possibly none at all, each dancer and listener will decide. My sense is that there will be a few people scratching their heads to this album. I remember during my opening track, "Virtual God", at the Gaian Mind Summer Festival 2003, some guy coming up to the booth and asking me "What style is this?” We just have to open our minds, hearts, and ears. Some things don't fit so easily into their digi-paks.
Track Notes:
1. Virtual God (8' 34" 135 BPM)
A dark mix of Astral Projection arpeggiation and S-Range lushness, don't believe everything the speakers tell you. With a psy-tekk edge (the kick is like Howitzer going off) Features a shadowy breakdown section with machine-gun kick drum lead-in to the final blowout.
2. The Hidden Fortress (9' 38" 136 BPM)
Two fools and a samurai, who are the fools in this lot? This is a rather pointillist funky track with lots of clav stabs and percussion fills not to mention a warped little melodic intro theme that reprises in the breakdown.
3. Sleep Machine (2' 35" 70 BPM)
Well, the arithmetic dictates that 140 divided by 2 is 70. That's because this is really an elaborate introduction to the next track. This is a dub-inspired piece that features a shakuhachi trading-off with a crazy 20th century cellist. You may be sleepy if you make it this far, but that won't last long because the next track is...
4. Dream Maker (10' 13" 140 BPM)
Inspired by a course-note sheet somebody left in the classroom, it had other gems such as "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers", all those things you're supposed to do to warm-up to (English) public speaking. This track leans towards the progressive trance side of the moon with a rather strong offbeat bass sound. It got many sections and eventually develops to a nearly cacophonous interlocking of lead-parts complete with mellotron crescendos.
5. Communion (7' 55" 138 BPM)
Intro fields sounds from New Years 2004 on the streets of Amsterdam, the joy amidst by a distant "We got to get us some beers!” Finally, a reveler looks at me and small DAT machine and says "What ya' got there mate?” The original intent was a tribal techno tune; ultimately it becomes an exercise in sonic space. This track explores the low-end and high-end, leaving a ton of space in the mid-range frequencies. Its 16th note bass line is fun to watch on the mixer's VU meters, you can actually see the pulsating tempo flickerings.
6. We Found (12' 32" 139 BPM)
This is dynamic piece that explores a lot of ideas, and has one of those characteristic psy-trance rolling bass lines. Plenty of leads, lots of breakdowns, there's one lead-in that has time-and-time-again gets the crowd whooping- a pleasant surprise for me. But, you won't be prepared for the last section, described as very trippy, very different. This tune was built in one mad rush of energy.
7. Son of Beat Monger (9' 18" 146 BPM)
A darker remix of a "silly sample novelty" track from a previous Soular compilation (V/A: Breathe). Lot's of subtle percussion parts, a very cranky lead, and, a “Dr. Dre low-ridin' in Compton” middle section that climbs its way back into the acid pulse.
8. Incognito (8' 54" 144 BPM)
Can you say "D-D-D-Dark"? This one swings in 16C (note Logicheads). Distinctive non-backbeat snare. Very trancy and musically ornate, all roads lead to the final breakdown and the inevitable acid ascension that follows.
9. Afterthought (8' 54" 133 BPM)
This is almost a soundtrack to the Unknown Motion Picture. A somewhat chill tune that still packs a little bite, this is lush and melodramatic, especially the opening tree crashing onto the forest floor. Parts inspired by some of northern European trance artists.
DISTRIBUTION:
This is available thru most of the on-line psytrance outlets. In the U.S. it can be obtained thru the Metropolis Records website (www.metropolis-records.com).
Of course the best way to obtain this CD is directly from me when we cross paths at a trance gathering. I’m sure the second best way will be Kazaa or Limelight, for free. Certainly it’ll be available on the net for free. This is something we have to accept. I have. If this album makes your day, or has repeatable listening/dancing value to you, and you have the financial means, please donate whatever. This will be set up on the www.onnomon.com site.
ENJOY!
Peace,
Dean
dean@onnomon.com
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