{"title":"The Monochrome Set","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"cosmonaut","title":"Cosmonaut","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the 70s, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e were part of the first wave of 'post punk' bands. Right from the beginning, the band earned a solid reputation as purveyors of fine pop, gaining praise from 80s contemporaries such as Morrissey and Edwyn Collins. Importantly, in later years this praise has continued with artists such as Franz Ferdinand, The Divine Comedy and Graham Coxon, all citing the band as a key influence on their own work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Monochrome Set sound has often been described as 'timeless', and that alone explains why, over the years, the band has continued gaining admirers. The Monochrome Set is black and white, at the same time, with no grey. That's what the name always meant - delivering mirth and melancholy, pleasure and panic, delight and dread, wrapped up in tuneful pop songs with curious lyrics. The band seem to occupy a parallel universe, with a rich panoply of sounds and words, all somehow evocative of something just beyond reach or remembrance - yet the songs have an immediate simplicity and power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'\u003cem\u003eCosmonaut\u003c\/em\u003e', the band's 13th album, is a perfect example of this exhilarating mix. The title track opens with a Theremin cyber fly buzzing towards your skull before the song hits, launching you into a mirror dimension that is both familiar and alien. The whole album is a trip that starts with a hallucinating cash-till lady, then travels through dream-sets involving cannibalism, disaffected squirrels, strange gods, dying sweethearts, sexual depravity, Alzheimer's, backward evolution, and ends in an operating theatre, amid a sea of medical tentacles. In short, a camping holiday.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe trademark \u003cstrong\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e guitar is ever-present, but this time complemented by delightfully busy keyboards, which give an added richness and spice to the album. In just 30 minutes, '\u003cem\u003eCosmonaut\u003c\/em\u003e' will catapult you into orbit and take you on a zany, hallucinogenic joyride - not in outer space as it turns out, but in and around the arcane and fantastical recesses of Bid's imagination. With minimal risk of explosion, persistent floatiness or disappointing space food. LP - With CD Version.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tapete","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50443863228747,"sku":"404662","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50443863982411,"sku":"404661","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/1e8366af-34e1-405f-b4ef-0cada55ed8c1_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727021164"},{"product_id":"fabula-mendax","title":"Fabula Mendax","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe have always loved the \u003cstrong\u003eMonochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e at Rough Trade - from the label releasing their early records to seeing them play all through their career, so we are incredibly pleased to be sharing with the band their new album on Dark Green Vinyl. It is also one of their best ever releases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the 70s, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e were part of the first wave of 'post punk' bands. Right from the beginning, the band earned a solid reputation as purveyors of fine pop, gaining praise from 80s contemporaries such as Morrissey and Edwyn Collins. Importantly, in later years this praise has continued with artists such as Franz Ferdinand, The Divine Comedy and Graham Coxon, all citing the band as a key influence on their own work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMonochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e sound has often been described as 'timeless', and that alone explains why, over the years, the band has continued gaining admirers. \u003cem\u003eFabula Mendax\u003c\/em\u003e is based on manuscripts written in the 15th Century by Armande de Pange, a companion of Jehanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc). Follow Armande as she flees her unhinged family, only to be caught up in the chaos of The Hundred Years' War. She encounters and trails the enigmatic Joan, later becoming a part of her expanding group of followers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs they travel west into the war zone of Northern France, they meet a motley medley of scheming noblewomen, bellicose knights, nefarious bishops, and assorted rotters, rogues and renegades. This is \u003cstrong\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e at its most ornate, and, much like Joan of Arc's ensemble, features a myriad of fiddlers, pluckers, beaters, tinklers and wailers, surrounding a central core of notorious crackpots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe hauntingly melodic pop harks back to the early TMS period of \u003cem\u003eEine Symphonie Des Grauens\u003c\/em\u003e, but is now complemented by a (periodically unemployed) vampire's orchestra, whose cha-cha-charnel chiming careens into carnal rhyming chanting, while saints and demons trip lightly across the slick red fields of liberty.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tapete","offers":[{"title":"Green | LP","offer_id":50457785696587,"sku":"1070022","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50457780355403,"sku":"1070023","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50457783468363,"sku":"1070021","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/5018d167-154e-474c-a628-cd7433418809_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727208093"},{"product_id":"volume-contrast-brilliance-sessions-and-singles-volume-1","title":"Volume, Contrast, Brilliance - Sessions and Singles Volume 1","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeluxe reissue of the reissue that came out in 2013. This time on clear vinyl with black, blue and white splatter. Presented in an embossed gloss laminated gatefold sleeve with lyrics. Originally released in 1983 this hugely rewarding record acted as a round up of the group’s career to date and was of immeasurable value to fans. It’s aged well, too. Comprising of A and B sides from their Rough Trade released singles plus extracts from sessions for Radio 1, Capital Radio and EMI Records, this LP contains unique versions of such classic tracks as “The Jet Set Junta” and “He’s Frank (Slight Return)”. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOddities, and jocular moments run through the album, including John Peel introducing “Fat Fun” and thinking aloud that those Monochrome boys might be having a pop at him. The fact that it includes a wish list of the band’s best songs to this point in their career is another reason to recommend it. Previously they may had made a handful of slightly-off-target albums, but this 1983 compilation is a front-to-back joy, fast, restless and perfectly sequenced. It plays like a cohesive album. Includes 2 bonus tracks from the February 1979 Peel Session 'Love Goes Down The Drain' and 'Noise (Eine Kleine Symphonie)'.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Optic Nerve","offers":[{"title":"Clear | LP","offer_id":50458244874571,"sku":"291299","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"the-independent-singles-collection","title":"The Independent Singles Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eThough the \u003cstrong\u003eMonochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e never made it as big as some of its post-punk contemporaries, the group has maintained a devoted cult. Bid, Lester Square, and Andy Warren all played in early versions of Adam and the Ants, but their first singles were arty, smooth, and ultra-sophisticated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA reputation as \"\u003cem\u003eXTC's upper-class art school cousins\u003c\/em\u003e\" developed from the early-'80s string of perfect, bouncy satirical pop songs collected on this set. This collection includes the first four classic singles on Rough Trade - all from 1979 plus later singles in the early 80's on Cherry Red.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cherry Red","offers":[{"title":"Black LPx2","offer_id":50467535716683,"sku":"1153901","price":31.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50467539878219,"sku":"297478","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/80835f75-24f6-44d8-8398-f1612097136f_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727339016"},{"product_id":"spaces-everywhere","title":"Spaces Everywhere","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Monochrome Set is back with their latest album, \u003cem\u003eSpaces Everywhere\u003c\/em\u003e. Lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter \u003cstrong\u003eBid\u003c\/strong\u003e describes the music as melodic and cheerful, while the lyrics touch on dark themes like death and decay, making the band popular with the undead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis album features a unique sound with banjos, Hammond organ, female backing vocals, and flutes. However, the signature undistorted, nervous guitars of The Monochrome Set are still present, giving the music a timeless quality that defies categorization. Bid's voice on this album is reminiscent of American crooners, adding a new dimension to the band's sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost of the songs were written in 2014, capturing the springtime air of that year. Despite their lack of major commercial success, The Monochrome Set has always been a favorite among music insiders. 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This LP includes a vinyl record and a CD version for your listening pleasure.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tapete","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50470942802251,"sku":"384537","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50470943883595,"sku":"384536","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/00206b02-be0f-41ae-ae8b-ab5e99cfc55b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727385662"},{"product_id":"volume-contrast-brilliance-volume-unreleased-and-rare-volume-2","title":"Volume, Contrast, Brilliance Volume - Unreleased and Rare Volume 2","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the 70s, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e were part of the first wave of 'post punk' bands. 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Spanning 1978 to 1991, these range from DIY to high quality studio recordings - many are real gems, but some also failed to be released or properly recorded for a variety of reasons (which are explained in the liner notes) - bad timing, odd decisions, even forgetfulness!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe range of styles displayed are typical of this iconic and highly influential band - slices of their sound can be heard throughout the indie and mainstream genres of many countries.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tapete","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50471032553803,"sku":"397895","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/e2c06eeb-1340-4c45-acd3-63131ccac75c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727388776"},{"product_id":"maisieworld","title":"Maisieworld","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the 70s, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e were part of the first wave of 'post punk' bands. 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New doors lead into hitherto unexplored corridors, where saxophones, trombones, and trumpets claw at you from the Harlem-brownstone walls which pulsate with the ceaseless beating of animal skins. Echoes from a bygone era of expertise race around you as you careen down these sewers of sound, lead guitar solos leap with rusty scimitars, strange organs slither over you on the damp roof, a growling bass snaps at your ankles, a misshapen banjo scuttles across your path, and, all the while, barbarians shake the seed-filled skulls of the dead. Playful vocals sing of your frail organic nature, the sad dreams and hopes that you entertain, and the dismal decisions you make. Scenes of a different imagination tear you like brittle canvas and rearrange your portrait into another's fantasy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUpon your exit from Maisieworld, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that your vessel is now filled with abnormal thoughts. Caution: May contain nuts. And bolts. 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The indie pop veterans have been hard to pin down over this time. Their instantly recognisable sound and darkly hilarious lyrics have always set them apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBid's\u003c\/strong\u003e cerebral Brit wit spikiness and debonair tones melded to infectious melodies and deft songcraft of a cinematic and literary quality has been quietly influential over a diverse set of artists since their inception and throughout different stages of their career so they can count the likes of Graham Coxon, Iggy Pop, Alex Kapranos, Neil Hannon, Johnny Marr and Jarvis Cocker as fans. Bid is joined in \u003cem\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/em\u003e by fellow original Andy Warren on bass, Mike Urban on drums and newest recruit Athen Ayren on keyboards. For the album recording Alice Healey provides backing vocals with Karen Yarnell on percussion and Jon Clayton, additional instrumentation. The album was recorded at OneCat Studio in London, engineered by Jon Clayton and produced by Jon Clayton and Bid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter an aeon spent in infinitely old cities of the body and mind, a magical creature glides back into its bedroom. It has been changed forever - what once was human is now a higher being, an unnatural force, the new perfect. It can still feel the exulting gaze of The Eye upon its back- thousands of years of brooding, planning, in deep, dark, secret places, waiting for the stars to align, the ideal body to infuse. The air around it spits ferociously; the whines of the weak still sing in its ears, like the pathetic squeaks of old curtains as they are closed forever. It stands before the full-length mirror, its reflection now clouded with dust. A lifetime of waiting; my poor mirror, here I am, I will clean you! It picks up a cloth and wipes across the glass triumphantly! Strange. It looks the same as before it left, all that time ago. 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And what could be more natural than starting the series with a band that represents the indie ethos like few others in following their own unique artistic vision without compromise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe most unique thing about the radio session recordings is that they encompass a mixture of concert and studio. 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All this has been remastered and beautifully packaged for the album’s re-issue, and is something sure to please long-term Monochrome Set fans and brand-new followers alike. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cherry Red","offers":[{"title":"CD | x3","offer_id":50483348406603,"sku":"1027464","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/6b126ce3-77a4-475e-872c-1cba9a49402c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727565435"},{"product_id":"strange-boutique","title":"Strange Boutique","description":"\u003cp\u003eMonochrome Set's debut album for Virgin followed the indie success of their singles \"Alphaville,\" \"Eine Symphonie Des Grauens,\" and \"The Monochrome Set\", all released by Rough Trade. By the time it was scheduled, Andy Warren (ex-Adam \u0026amp; the Ants) had replaced Jeremy Harrington on bass, and the lineup was completed by guitarist Lester Square (also ex-Ants), Indian-born vocalist\/guitarist Bid, and former Art Attacks drummer J.D. Haney. Although it can't quite match \u003ci\u003eEligible Bachelors\u003c\/i\u003e for songwriting, there are a number of superb, non-single album tracks that make this an essential purchase for fans -- especially \"Ici les Enfants,\" \"The Puerto Rican Fence Climber,\" and \"The Lighter Side of Dating.\" Amid the austerity of post-punk England, and before we became awash with irony and archness, we needed a band who could raise their eyebrows and smirk at it all without ever being condescending (or maybe only a little bit condescending).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"4 Men With Beards","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50489994576203,"sku":"351075","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Strange_Boutique_87418192_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727648422"},{"product_id":"m80-concert","title":"M80 Concert","description":"\u003cp\u003eA superb document of The Monochrome Set. It features the full 18 song set from the m80 concert in Minneapolis, Indiana from September 1979.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50525937566027,"sku":"360419","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/M80_Concert_a2f86847_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728037733"},{"product_id":"the-lost-weekend","title":"The Lost Weekend","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn many ways this is The Monochrome Set\"s él Records album. Definitely not a rock album, more eclectic, with influences spanning the 1920\"s to the early 1960\"s. On this Album Bid is crafting his skills as a songwriter: the minimalist \"Cowboy Country\" could be a Burt Bacharach song without the orchestra, \"Sugarplum\" a Hoagy Carmichael song but with a pop group, \"Jacob\"s Ladder\" an early 1960\"s twangtastic beat song. There is a tangible Latin influence throughout the album, even a little Flamenco, especially on the songs \"Cargo\" and \"Don\"t Touch\", all with a feather light touch. The very sparse and light nature of the album probably worked against it commercially in an 80\"s world of heavy drums, rock guitar and New Romantic synths. 40 years later the quality of the songwriting shines through.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tapete","offers":[{"title":"Red LP","offer_id":51542640197963,"sku":"R0178-0121","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/05269981.jpg?v=1743178782"},{"product_id":"lotus-bridge","title":"Lotus Bridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnashamedly literate UK post-punk sophisticates The Monochrome Set, having amassed a formidable catalogue of releases over 5 decades, are ready to release their new opus \u003cem\u003eLotus Bridge\u003c\/em\u003e on Tapete Records - the band's home for the last twelve years and six studio albums. Their instantly recognisable sound and darkly humorous lyrics have always set them apart. Bid's cerebral wit and debonair tones, melded to infectious melodies and deft songcraft of a cinematic and literary quality, have been quietly influential over a diverse set of artists since their inception and throughout different stages of their career. The band are, in essence, a national treasure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new album \u003cem\u003eLotus Bridge\u003c\/em\u003e is a psychedelic trip into Bid’s rich and fantastical dreamworld. Based on a singular dream that re-presented itself after an eight-month hiatus just when it became time to record again, Bid recounts in sharp detail the myriad of characters and surroundings that appeared in his dream and inspired this new set of stories to unfold. Bid elucidates, \"It seemed to me, as I wrote these lyrics, that this whole story was a metaphor for a crumbling civilization, and whether or not I would leave it behind if I were given the opportunity. The other side of the bridge represents what seems to be an unknown future that I'm being asked to accept without explanation, and the other songs represent a journey back through the past and are a sometimes allegorical re-evaluation of it. I think that I managed to keep to a close narrative thread in the lyrics, and deliberately kept the underlying musical structures in a similar tempo and key. Even old poetry is timeless, if it is about personal experiences\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis new album follows on from Bid's recently released book of selected lyrics - \u003cem\u003eStrange Young Alien\u003c\/em\u003e - published by Ventil Verlag in November 2025 - a book that gives invaluable insight into his songwriting process and the more you learn about Bid's writing process, the more mysterious and intriguing things become.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus Bridge\u003c\/em\u003e has a subtle but quite different feel to previous TMS albums - the core use of electric piano and acoustic guitar, electric guitars often used in wide stereo, and overall a very focused and almost orchestral feel to it. There are also ambient sounds between many of the songs, so that the whole album feels like a connected whole. Bid is joined in The Monochrome Set for this recording by fellow original Andy Warren on bass, Stephen Gilchrist on drums and Athen Ayren on keyboards and guitar. Alice Healey once again provides backing vocals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tapete","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":56345481347403,"sku":"R1315-1959","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":56345481380171,"sku":"R1315-1845","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP - White","offer_id":56345481412939,"sku":"R1315-2782","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/TR605_THEMONOCHROMESET-LotusBridge_3000px_rgb.jpg?v=1768928675"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/the-monochrome-set.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}