Monomania Reviews |
Indierama.co.uk - In Your Element - Review
I'm not entirely sure who Monomania are, but I'm willing to place a
reasonable wager that they're Mancunian, sounding as they do a bit like The
Smiths and a bit like The Buzzcocks, and actually very good. The guitars are
fuzzy and scuzzy as they should be, but we can still make out strange but
entertaining lines such as "Your existence is cold tea, that really tickles
me". What it means isn't important, but what is important is that there's
just enough US alt-rock in this one to rescue it before it veers off into
sounding like James - and that matters.
B-side "Ehrich Weisz" starts to sound a bit like Pavement, what with its
half-spoken vocals over an intricate guitar line, but rights itself in time
for a football-chant style yell-along chorus. Third track "Anton Kingsway"
is more of a rocker, with some nice 3-chord noise to finish off with.
MONOMANIA
IN YOUR ELEMENT
Sounding for all the world like it was written in 1990, Monomania's debut
single "In Your Element" sounds like the last ten years never happened.
That's not necessarily a bad thing - music at least had a sense of adventure
when My Bloody Valentine and Ride were ruling the indie roost. It makes a
nice change to hear a band that isn't trying to be the new Coldplay, and the
jangly-recorded-in-a-toilet-somewhere title track has an engaging sense of
conviction.
As if to continue the nostalgia, B-sides "Ehrich Weisz" and "Anton
Kingsway"
sound like a mixture of long lost tune-dodgers The Wedding Present and
scouse also-rans Space.
Trust me - this is a good thing. (4 stars)
Single Review by MARK BAYROSS © 2001 PHASE9.NET MAGAZINE
Monomania
Title: In Your Element (3-song CD)
The Rundown (out of 5)
Sound Quality: 3
Production: 4
Musicianship: 4
Originality: 3
Over All: 4
Artist Website
In an interesting combination of grunge and Britpop, these songs alternate
humble, slightly goofy verses with powerhouse choruses. "In Your Element"
and "Ehrich Weisz" are the winners; "Anton Kingsway" does a bit less
well
with the formula. I wasn't able to make out many of the lyrics, and it would
be nice to have a better idea what the songs are about. But that didn't
detract from my enjoyment of the music.
These guys have a nice ear for a hook. That, along with the strength of
their guitar work, boosts this music above average.
Jon Sobel for THEGLOBALMUSE.COM
MONOMANIA - IN YOUR ELEMENT (UGLYMAN)
Take a good long listen to this single as in Monomania we have a band on the
verge of something special. Three tracks is all it takes to realise this.
Monomania have also managed to make their first single sound highly
professional, a great sign of their maturing abilities.
The first track, 'In Your Element', is a lively rock song that harks back to
the days when the Manics were good.
'Ehrich Weisz' is a low tempo number that is driven by dark melodies and
Ricky Monomania's vocals. It is also the best song on the CD. Words of
'writing poisoned valentines' conjure up signs of the great Francis Black in
Ricky's style.
The final track 'Anton Kingsway' is a more traditional rock song, part
"television" part "the fall", with enough energy to prove they have
something to
offer the guitar band genre. It's early days certainly but Monomania are
gradually climbing their way to stardom.
ROY (SUAVE)
Monomania – In Your Element (Uglyman)
Uglyman patronage now assured, but let’s face it, Monomania’s firebrand rock ethic was always more than their small-town status deserved. Instilled with a hard-fought vigour only an apprenticeship in yep, The Thrush Puppies can only allow, we’re talking a collision of wired melody and dustbowl anthemics in the great lineage of The Buzzcocks and The Fall, and even better, the first great Manc single of the 21st century to trade acoustic guitars for distortion pedal scuzzyness. Furthermore, in the wondrous refrain, "Your existence is so sincere….. You’ve got verbal diarrhoea", lyric of the year anyone?
David Sue - City Life
Monomania - www.seditionaries.net/monomania.htm
In Your Element
Monomania are following in the great tradition of The Smiths, Marion and many other Northern Bands who excel at producing impassioned alternative rock.
'In Your Element' is the first of three tracks on the single, and is a solid example of what a well constructed 'indie' song should sound like.
However the next two tracks are my personal favourites as they are more observational, character based pieces. In 'Ehrich Weisz' the lyrics are not crystal clear but you do get a definite sense of honest powerful emotion, from the track, which is very refreshing.
Finally, 'Anton Kingsway', which is also a descriptive homage to someone or something, that has a rawer, more insurgent edge, perhaps showing a glimpse of the vitriol Monomania have yet to release.
Monomania have released this single through Uglyman Records, who have an excellent record, launching both Elbow and I Am Kloot. Emerging from a quality stable such as this gives Monomania a promising start, and I would wish them luck but by the sounds of things they won't be needing it.
- Hazel Norris
Monomania - In Your Element - 3 TRK CD -
[UGLY MAN]
At last the long awaited Monomania CD is about to be released and we have things being
opened with the excellent "In Your Element", or "@ Era" as it was
called when it was first demo-ed at the end of last year (in fact an early review of the
track can be found on this very site). "Down by the Canal.. Excrement." goes one
of the lines before jumping into one of Pete Mason's, Buzzcockian guitar breaks and before
you know it we crunch for a final time, into one of the best chorus's on record this
summer. Radio friendly, infectious , subversive and essential.
"Ehrich Weisz" is the birth name of escapologist Houdini and the song tangles
itself in the heavily compressed bass, as it bubbles aggressively below a light verse,
leading to the ranting chorus of "Ehrich Weisz" - another night-club
chant. Each and every song unfolds a mixture of dark, humorous yet sensitive lyrics and
the actual arrangements are quite complex, heavy in places but always multi layered,
mixing hidden feedback with chorus
and delay effects.
"Anton Kingsway" is more of a balled to start off, but we're soon into a
thrashing four chord cacophony. Monomania are more alternative than some people give them
credit for, their music is sophisticated, yet feels raw and accessible and the words are
the best you'll get.
As a collection, it marks a significant development from the "What Next E.P."
and should be at least an essential addition to anyone's collection of landmark local
releases. And that's before we even think about the fact
that its on Ugly Man !
9/10
- Review by manchestermusic.co.uk
Monomania Interview - Manchester Evening News - June
2001
Monomania interview - Ear Candy
From - www.leedsmusicscene.co.uk
"It took me a lot of listens to finally decide that I liked this CD, a release that
requires some serious attention. Monomania's single, released on Manchester's Uglyman
Records label, has an introduction and verse structure describable simply as soaring
guitar (rock) pop. Yet this clearly doesn't capture the whole of the music on offer
throughout "In Your Element". The end result is an overall placing in the
alternative category; perhaps alt.rock with a mixture of UK and US sounds, wound up by a
striking vocal style. And with lyrics like "Your existence is
burnt toast, that's the bit I love the most" then a memorable delivery is
oh-so-important.
Whilst "Enrich Weisz" follows on from the opening track, its track three that
does it most for me. "I'm gonna write a song about Anton Kingsway..." kicks it
off, a crafted mixture of a simple, appealing melody during the verses and a crashing rock
chorus - alternative in a different way, this was my favourite track.
Difficult at first to get into, yet try and turn it off once you've started and you can't.
Very well worth a listen, it's a
grower. 7/10"
- Dave Sugden
Monomania - "In Your Element"
(Uglyman Records)
This is the first single from Manchester-based Monomania, released on the same label that
launched Elbow and I Am Kloot nonetheless. Listening to Monomania for the first time I was
pleasantly surprised. The first thing that struck me were the quirky lyrics "Your
existence is burnt toast, that's the bit I love the most" - strange yes, but
different at least. Another of Monomania's defining features are their jagged, raw guitar
lines. These may be more akin to the US alt-rock scene than rainy old Manchester, but the
band still manage to retain a definite British sound - undoubtedly a good thing! To
conclude, "In Your Element" is a powerful song with a melody that's impossible
to deny - to me that's what good music is all about. 8/10
Reviewer: David Coleman
Manchester Life magazine:
The Bands - Monomania
MONOMANIA have the line-up of a standard four-piece, but in every other respect they are
severely non-standard. Their driving guitar and relentless rhythms produce a rather
industrial sound, something like early Joy Division or even Kraftwork; dark, star and
Teutonic;gothic, but not Goth. Leadsinger Ricky Cummings' lyrics are simultaneously
flippant and succinct, and remind us that there is in fact many a true word spoken in jest
('Your existence is so sincere/You've got verbal diarrhoea'. This Manchester City
supporter seems overwrought and even angry. Veins throb on his temples as, through gritted
teeth, he rasps lines charting one man's panic attack in a department store ('Come back
later, still be here/BHS escalator fear - sing BHS! sing M&S!"). Yet Cummings'
delivery is totally at odds with his sly, slightly off-the -wall humour, which is worthy
of Manchester satirists such as John Cooper Clarke or The Freshies.
A darker more sombre side is displayed in numbers such as 'She's My Monomania' and the
rueful 'Sofa Bed' (about the uncontrollable feelings of jealousy engendered when an
ex-girlfriend wishes to stay the night uninvited). As there is a little extra time at the
end of the set, we are treated to a bonus track, in the form of "Anti-Mutt Allergy
Pills", ('Give me anti-histamines - QUICK!'), which embodies the eccentric spirit of
this band which can only be described as 'quirky'.
Hooker / Monomania / The Cardinals - Jabez -28.03.01
Monomania are back. It seems so long, yet the songs are still familiar and without doubt
Rick and his motley crew have some sure fire hits on their side. Witness the dirty goings
on in "None Contact Sports on Eurosports" and the alter-ego twists of
"Erik Weiss".
If you've not heard "In Your Element" then you're missing a potential chart hit.
Despite the band revealing a feeling of being "rusty" the set goes well and the
singing along gets louder after each gig. Until a throat splutter during "Bizarre
Man", prompts the classic mid-song ending of "Fuck it, that's it.".
Fortunately for Manchester, Monomania will be big and its just a matter of time.
City Life April 2000
Singles Monomania: What Next E.P
As tales of amorous activity go, they don't get much better than this. "She's after
me, she touched me up," sings Ricky Monomania on 'RC Esquire & the Mad Goth', a
salacious paean to yes, mad Goths. Backed by a blitzing Chameleons meets Wire guitar
assault and impeccable production from Jonathan Barratt, in Monomania, we have a band on
the verge of things. With a wicked sense of humour too it seems.
manchestermusic.co.uk
What Next e.p-review
Often quoted as containing ex-Thrush Puppies, don't need any inherited credibility - the
previous references are in any case irrelevant - Monomania stand on their own 8-feet.
Expanding the ever-increasing circle of " northern new wave anti-pop". The first
track "Hellsinki" racks up marks with its off-kilter syncopated rock and roll,
which is overlaid by punchy sharp vocals. Marvellously structured songs allow the solid
wall of "monosound" to be captivating and quite inspiring. "RC Esquire and
the Mad Goth", again its a very late 70's sound with a bit of a flirt with the B-52s.
Catchy in an alternative sort of way. "She's My Monomania" - A nicely dark
guitar start rolls into some "zoo records" territory before slowly coursing
through the "she's my monomania" chorus - this is a blacker than black love
song? "Sofa Bed" jumps off the blocks into a distorted swinging bass line - a
more electronic feel to this one - a mini epic to close of a blinding E.P.
Live review- March 2000
The main event was upon us. And Monomania delivered. This is an alt-take on alternative -
daring to be slightly different. There are some tunes, but with a tongue in cheek delivery
and a quirky off-kilter style there is plenty of original new wave in here. Some Wire /
ATV, Fall maybe - but no derivative obviousness - just a solid reminder of what this type
of music was originally about. " Let's try and be different..."and how Monomania
succeed at this alone...Their "What Next EP" is available on CD from Piccadilly
Records and HMV - Its well worth investigating.
Live Review - Band on the Wall - 12.04.00
Live review
Which leads us onto the equally excellent Monomania. With independently minded tunes such
as "Hellsinki", "BHS" and "Sofabed", Monomania presented
another perfect helping of alternative guitar music that still manages to contain a wide
range of flavours. Without even trying, the angst comes naturally - mental aggression
without actually moving - you have to see it to appreciate it. A perfectly timed set and
another outstanding performance. Yet another "thinking persons" band (don't let
it go over your head).
Soviet Union Records - April 2000
Daniel Martin - Manchester Evening News - 10/3/2000
Ricky laughs, "It's actually about me, because my name is Richard Cummings, and I
went to a Fall gig at Rockworld , I'd have been about 16." He's talking about RC
Esquire and the Mad Goth, a fabulously titled track from his band Monomania's first EP,
What Next.
"This Goth girl came up to me dead scary looking, and she came on to me in a fairly
explicit way. I was 16. I didn't stop shaking all night because I'd been attacked by this
mad Goth. It's my first sexual memory I think."
It seems that thankfully, the newest crop of local bands don't hold with the traditions of
'I'm really-sad-because-my-birds-left-me' blandness. The rest of the band are Gavin
(guitar, possible future dance direction), Phill (drums) and Stu (bass). Together they are
Monomania, and frankly they rock. A simple enough reason to believe, but for those who
don't go for hyperbole, there's quite enough else to recommend them.
Vocalist Ricky tested the rock waters with cult punk outfit the Thrush Puppies who nearly
became contenders a few years back. Monomania means a manic obsession with one thing and
while he helpfully informs us that this is music in their case, he also allows for that
other staple football to creep in there.
Predictably, they were all born City fans, so on choosing to go it alone and launch their
own label, it was inevitably christened Kippax. The first release 'What Next', combines
Mad Goth with the ripping powerpop chug-out of Hellsinki and the brooding, Electro-tinged
Sofa Bed.
It's the most promising guitar EP to come out of Manchester since a good while before the
last one.
Plus there's a production credit for Jonathan 'Baz' Barrett, whose CV stretches to work
with Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Cornershop and Lamb. "He's third down from Martin
Hannett in the family tree of Manchester engineers," says an enthused Ricky. Push him
to the level of a professional Mancunian however, and Ricky's amiable self-effacement
hints at something a little more the 'Rock Star'. All I'll say is there's cliques in
Manchester." he says gazing out of Dry Bar's epic front windows with glint in his
eye. "And there's one clique not too far from here. The music isn't actually that
good, but seems to be selling at the moment and it's gonna break nation-wide soon. I don't
want to be a part of anything like that." Like what exactly? "I think it's all
about the clique, I think a lot of them have got nothing better to do than drink coffee
over the road all day."
Crank up your gob Ricky and your band will make it. The music is already in place.
The Manchester Evening News
"Insurrectionary big pop twitching with subterranean menace, and known to chisel out
the odd pop gem with carefully aimed poise"
Neil Davenport
Manchester City Life
"Moody electronic noise and swirling guitars, create a minor pop classic"
when reviewing the first Monomania ' City Life Star demo song ', Sofa Bed.
David Sue
The Manchester Chronicle
"Monomania are receiving rave reviews wherever they go and have the added advantage
of a Chameleons comparison. Also impressed by the band is Mark Burgess ex-Chameleons
front-man, which fits with the comparisons by music lovers. Monomania's sound is still
very original sounding and big things may be just around the corner.