Mono – Oath (2xLP)

Japanese post-rock band MONO are back with “OATH”, their twelfth album, this time with genre-bending classical orchestration and the typical transcendental guitar sounds of a career spanning four decades. “What are we doing here?” The year 2020 has turned what was once the quintessence of late-night stoner existentialism into a daily mantra for almost everyone on the planet. What are we doing with our limited time in this life? What is our goal? What should we be doing? Over the past 25 years, MONO have explored themes such as the relationship between darkness and light, hope in the face of catastrophe, and the duality of birth and death. On their 12th album, OATH, they reflect on the time that makes up life and how to make the most of it. Recorded and mixed with longtime friend and collaborator Steve Albini, OATH begins like a sunrise with a slowly rising orchestra and horns, with the entire band taking time to soak in the atmosphere before joining in the brilliance. Throughout the album's 71-minute runtime, MONO meditates on the theme of time and life in a variety of ways. The unhurried progression of a song, which is a hallmark of MONO's catalog, is imbued with an elegance that elevates OATH to new heights. MONO have provided themselves with a universally relatable existential subtext.