[Originally intended to be released as our side of a 10" split single, the recent economic climate meant that it couldn't go ahead; we're instead releasing it for free over the internet, hoping one day to have a nice physical form for it...]

Joy is a little different from our normal material- there’s a piano part in there (played by Nicole, on Kings College’s Steinway grand), underscored by growling bowed guitars and mallet-beaten drums, all swathed in smoky reverb. It opens with a D dorian viola melody that meanders over a constantly changing time signature, before swelling and being joined by massed strings, bowed & screwdrivered guitars. ‘Cello takes up the viola melody in a quieter mood, before the whole band swells in again; a solo guitar melody takes over, changing to the major key as it does, repeating over an ascending progression of keys, before being joined by strings to restate the melody. The penultimate section begins with a succession of heavy string phrases backed by pounding drums and bowed guitar, before the strings take up the previous guitar melody. Finally, bowed guitars and strings pulse and fade together before looping away into infinity.

Reviews

‘Not to be outdone the twelve and a half minute ‘joy’ is the star attraction here – makes no bones about that. A transfixing spectacle of noir orchestral atmospherics, bleakly beautiful, both pensive and brooding and darkly vivid as though the scarred romance of Black Heart Procession and the unbridled passion of GSYBE had somehow been tethered and teased into some senses enrapturing supernatural symphony by a minimalist minded Sakamoto where amid the arcing alleyways of forlorn shadows the momentary parting of the unfurling tear stained drama evaporates to reveal cresting hazes of brief euphoria – absolute crushing stuff – we need to hear more and soon’ [Losing Today]

Personnel:

Neil Walsh – viola
Rhiannon Armstrong – violin
Nicole Robson – ‘cello, piano
Nick Gill – bowed & screwdriver guitar
Martin Austwick – electric guitar
Ed Howard – drums

Engineered & produced by Nick; recorded at Nick’s house, Jamestown Studios and the Organ Grinder House, 2008.

The first album by the group proper, Electric Old Wire Noise comprises new recordings of music from 67 moons and wedontknowhowyoufindtimeforallofuslordbutweregratefulthatyoudo, based on re-arrangements of the music for the new group. 

The CD is housed in a green foil-stamped card box, with a 12″ square fold-out inlay, with artwork by Consumer Revolt. 

Reviews 

* * * *[Decoy Music] 

“The Monroe Transfer’s music is big and bold, confident and complex; it relies little on repetition and quiet-loud-quiet dynamics, and is all the more stirring for its reluctance to adhere to tried-and-tested formulas” [Drowned in Sound] 

“ALBUM OF THE WEEK. The Monroe Transfer may have seemingly come out of nowhere, but with their debut release have crafted a post-rock classic that sets them among the ranks of the best in the genre. There’s an epic quality here which utilises a delicate Orchestral aesthetic – imagine if Max Richter was to collaborate with Mogwai – a handpicked mixture of mindblowing string compositions coupled with experimental guitar and percussion so precise it may as well be compared to the Battles – yes it’s that good. A Huge recommendation.” [Boomkat Online] 

“their music is intense, slow-building, hypnotic, even mesmerising in its effect, its relative simplicity a vital part of its appeal: there are no showy solos, no instrumental pyrotechnics of any sort; every contribution is at the service of the overall group sound, which is an utterly beguiling mix of plangent strings, flickering guitars, electronic noise and forcefully tasteful drums building to uplifting climaxes” [Vortex album reviews]
credits
released 01 January 2005 
Kat Hudson – viola 
Seiriol Davies – ‘cello 
Pete Withey – electric guitar 
Nick Gill – electric guitar, ukulele, glockenspiel, samples 
Dave O’Brien – double bass 
Ed Howard – drums 

Recorded by Ed at ADP Studios, East Sussex; produced & mixed by Ed, with some help from Nick.

A long fall & no-one to catch you

An excerpt from the CD & DVD double pack of 'I dreamt I was a hammer & everything was glass', released on 9th March 2009 on Organ Grinder Records. 

"At their most beautiful, The Monroe Transfer are able to lightly brush the places that so few other instrumental acts can...its exciting when a band that features not a single singer is able to take you away to someplace other than the here and now on fabulous waves of orchestral sound. The Monroe Transfer, at their most beautiful, are that band." [Drowned in Sound]

I dreamt I was a hammer and everything was glass is a fascinating example of care, craft, ambition and skill. The music, like the handmade sleeve that carries it, is meticulously constructed, skilfully executed and yet simply enjoyable. It begins with slow strings that absent you from the here and now, but develops with purpose and visceral intent to a frenetic conclusion from which you may emerge a little shaken. It is an exhilarating experience and one we recommend you allow yourself some time to enjoy.

We are also delighted to present the accompanying DVD which contains an animated video by Gemma Burditt. The film took a year to make using photo-collage, drawings and After Effects and offers a visual interpretation of the music that aligns wonderfully with both its moments of beauty and its more violent passages. Gemmas recent work includes Art Breaks for MTV and music videos for the BBC and EMI. She is presently working on a new short entitled "Welcome Homes" combining documentary and animation about a shelter for the elderly.

I dreamt I was a hammer & everything was glass [excerpt]

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                                                                                                 46′ 12″

Vox Humana was an experiment in process, for us; rather than having full parts written before the recording process began, we took a progression of 6 chords and each band member recorded one ten-minute take of material they’d prepared beforehand, and improvisation over the progression, on however many instruments they wanted to use.  These recordings were then treated as source material, and were cut up, rearranged, treated electronically and manipulated to become the final piece.

The record was packaged in 2 versions- an edition of 50 handmade boxes, filled with screen prints, acetates and a handmade screenprinted book, and an edition of 100 in hand printed recycled card sleeves.

Rhiannon Armstrong – violin
Neil Walsh – viola, glockenspiel, guitar
Nicole Robson – ‘cello, toy organ
Nick Gill – electric & acoustic guitar, ‘cello, singing, production
Dave O’Brien – double bass, piano, kora
Martin Austwick – electric & acoustic guitar
Ed Howard – drums
Ve Knowland – singing

Recorded at Nick & Dave’s houses, and at Ed’s studio; recordings were treated, mixed & produced by Nick at home.

Vox humana [excerpts]

We recorded this for Christmas 2007, as a special present to our mailing list friends. It’s a ponderous, slow-burning mass and, if you get the chance to walk around somewhere where it’s snowing while listening to this on earphones, we’d heartily recommend it. Pure atmosphere.

We may well release it again, when another Christmas comes around; to be sure of finding a present in your inbox, make sure to sign up to our mailing list…

Reviews-

‘hate to stick my neck out at such an early point in the proceedings but frankly this runs away with the award for best moment(s) of the seasonal selections. we must admit to not having the faintest idea who the Monroe Transfer are though on the evidence of this selected brace of offerings we’re minded to make it our new year quest to track the blighters down. At eleven minutes in length we are betting that you’ll never hear a better rendition of ‘silent night’ done in a droning psych post rock vibe in your life, an absolutely jaw dropping experience – resonating opines, caressing string arrangements, glazes of shimmering hazes, monumental swathes of grandeur and spectral dimples all serviced with a hugely glacial wide screen aspect that’s as cavernous as it is colossal – step aside Sigur Ros – utterly breathtaking’  [Losing Today]

Nicole Robson – ‘cello
Neil Walsh – viola, Omnichord
Rhiannon Armstrong – violin
Nick Gill – bowed guitar & bowed fretless bass
Martin Austwick – electric guitar & acoustic guitar, singing

Arranged, engineered & produced by Nick; recorded at Nick’s house, November 2007.

Silent night

Waltz

A change in tone & style from our usual stuff.  

As ever, you can hear more of our music at http://themonroetransfer.bandcamp.com.

Smoke (The Monroe Transfer remix)

I'm thinking about playing some improvised, ambient guitar shows this year; this is a short improv to try out the setup.  It's all done with hardware effects, rather than playing through a laptop.  

Instruments are an electric guitar and a hideous-looking Korg DDD-5 drum machine.  

I'd very much like to know if this is something you'd be at all interested in seeing played live.  Comment away!

Wool improv #1

Guitarist, composer, sound designer, producer, playwright, letterpress printer & typefounder. I write for, and play in, The Monroe Transfer.

Nick Gill

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