(Human Highway/Valve)

Outrageously epic orchestral post-rock

Hymn To The Immortal Wind is Mono’s most cinematic and blatantly grand album to date. The Tokyo quartet’s apocalyptic post-rock arrangements are here complemented by a chamber orchestra to complete a sound officially described as “a plane crashing into a Beethoven concert”. The record is the result of a year devoted solely to writing and finally recording – live (orchestra and all) – to tape with long-time producer Steve Albini. The ex-Shellac frontman not only skilfully captures the violence of wood, metal and skin; but perhaps more tellingly, also manages to convey the hushed subtleties of 30 people existing at once. This fifth LP sees Mono reaching beyond even 2006’s epic concept album, You Are There. For when the walls of rock noise recede on Follow The Map, what’s left is an aching ode to romance, so vivid as to be a soundtrack for some imaginary film. These flourishes of guitarist Takaakira Goto’s compositional pen are exhilarating, and add weight to the notion he is a man born long after his time. Mono remain arguably the best post-rock band in the world; though with Hymn To The Immortal Wind, they are easily the most epic.

JAKEB SMITH

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