[.ca] One Step More and You Die

Morons...:
There appears to be some confusion between Mono and Mono. For this, I suggest the following terminology: Mono(P) to denote the Mono that are Portishead rip-offs. Mono(A) to denote the Mono that are amazing. If you wanted beats, and you bought this record by accident, you may be a moron. Did you really think Mono(P) would release an album called "One Step More and You Die"? Take a look at the cover of Formica Blues and then this cover. What were you thinking? For those of you who love post-rock, especially, as the other reviews have stated, Mogwai circa Young Team-CODY, then this is ideal. Like a less involved Explosions in the Sky. More soaring guitar solos though, kind of like the solo on "Greet Death" or perhaps the superimposed guitar lead on "Christmas Steps." And yes. Com(?) is a natural pair to "My Father, My King." If you know these tracks, love post-rock and especially can deal with "My Father My King" transitions to "Helicon 2," then this album is fantastic. If you're an idiot looking to buy Portishead rip-offs, then just buy a Portishead album. I suggest Dummy.

A stellar work of sonic art:
One More Step is the most brilliant avant rock release since 1999's The Fragile. Listen to the entire CD at once. As also with Thirteenth Step, this epic is heard best when the listener allows the synergy to develop fully. (BTW the latest from A Perfect Circle, which is entitled Thirteenth Step, shows how far a rock band can progress when it receives a confluence of seemingly destined inspiration and luck.) What's more, the second track Com(?) is the best on any of the three albums mentioned above. I serendipitously discovered this music when I tried to order what I thought was a new release from Mono, the band that gave us Formica Blues.

interesting....:
ladies and gentlemen, i profess knowledge of few things. one of them, however, is a certain connection with the whole post-rock movement. i grew up on the stuff. from the first rodan and bark psychosis to mogwai and godspeed, i adore many of the bands. this band, it seems to me, is alot like mogwai circa that time between young team and CODY. sonically explosive yet somber and slowly buidling. i dig the album, yet, it seems that originality is NOT their strong stuff. please folks, buy the mogwai stuff first. you'll be glad you did. and no, not for the levis commercial song either.

No way, Jose.:
To be fair, I was hoping for the "Formica Blues" Mono. But I gave it a chance. This is the most uneventful CD I have heard in a while. Way too repetitive (which is sometimes forgivable if it's not already boring like this). If you're looking for the other Mono, pass this one up. A 10-year-old could make more interesting music on a shoddy keyboard. More than anything else, it sounds like a boring soundtrack to a boring movie. Don't waste the money or time.

Like being punched in the guts:
Another great band I wouldn't have heard of were it not for 3WK.com. I heard 'Com (?)' (the second track in) and it was like walking into a glass door - you don't see it coming and when it hits you you're just left thinking "what the f*** was that??!" . 'Com (?)' is a full 15 minutes of brilliance - it starts slow, builds up over repeating rythyms (thank Can), ebbs again, and finally climaxes in a full-force soundstorm that just takes your breath away. Over 15 minutes you're not entirely aware of it building up, but by the end, the hairs on the back of your neck are standing up, and you find you've tensed right up. The album is worth every penny just for this track alone. The rest of the album is sort of different but the same. It's all instrumental (just as well, because I can never understand the Japanese, even when they sing in English \owitness the irrepressible Zoobombs\c), and much of it is a lot slower - kind of gently brooding/menacing, rather than the sonic frenzy of 'Com (?)', but still pretty intense, and it definitely holds your attention. If you've heard 'Com (?)' and want more of the same you may be disappointed (get Mogwai's 'My Father My King' EP instead - actually, you should get that anyway! - and check out 'Motherf***er = Redeemer (Part 2)' on Godspeed! You Black Emperor's 'Yanqui U.X.O.'), but the whole album is well worth the price of admission regardless.

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