Masters of crafting soundscapes that teeter on the edge of reality and the infinite, New York trio Mono Means One are nothing short of architects in their debut, Listless Playthings of Enormous Forces. This album, recorded in just two days in a yurt(!), isn’t just a collection of compositions; it’s a boundary-breaking exploration destined for critical acclaim and timeless appreciation among music lovers.
The trio dives headfirst into an otherworldly realm, where lush melodies and hypnotic rhythms converge to create a gravitational pull. The sonic atmosphere they craft feels like the thick air inside a black hole, drawing listeners deeper with each note. The music operates like a perception-altering drug, aligning itself with the very nature of existence on a molecular level. Isaac Young’s keyboards function as a universe unto themselves, while bassist John Ferrara and drummer Rob Madore generate rich, organic textures that transcend the confines of traditional instrumentation. Their rhythms, a matrix of odd-time signatures and polyrhythmic mastery, evoke conversations that span continents and centuries, creating a foundation as complex as it is cohesive.
The album’s opener, “Imagined Battles,” is a showcase of rhythmic displacement at its most refined. Guided by Madore‘s chaotic yet calculated drumming, Ferrara’s bass lines dance around the edges of the groove, creating a sonic vortex that hints at the depths the trio is about to explore. From the outset, Mono Means One makes it clear that they are not just playing music—they are communicating something far more intricate.
“Law of Vacant Places” pushes experimental boundaries even further. It’s a cerebral piece, conjuring the image of a sage from a distant, hidden village imparting his ancient wisdom. The song’s spatial precision is a marvel, with each note sculpted like a statue, both powerful and delicate. The result is an immersive experience that’s hard to pull away from.
With “Enormous Forces,” Ferrara delivers a tapping masterclass, as Young’s ethereal keyboards float above the track, while Madore’s drumming interlocks with the bass in perfect synchronicity. This song is followed by “The Eyes Have It,” a track that leans toward a post-progressive sound, channeling the spirit of math rock pioneers but through a mature, nuanced lens. The interplay of guitars here, combined with the song’s mysterious undercurrent, creates a tension that is both subtle and intense.
The mystery lingers in “End of the World Delight,” where seasonal, cyclical progressions give the track a foggy, autumnal feel. The song evolves in a circular motion, as Ferrara’s bass slowly emerges from the mist, only to retreat again, leaving behind a synth-like warmth that lingers like a breath drawn out in a slow exhale. The song eventually fades, leaving behind the ghost of its own sonic journey.
“Riches to the Conjuror” takes the album deeper into its abyssal journey, melding noir-era film scores with primal, almost ancient, musical instincts. The layered soundscapes here are masterfully controlled, dense with purpose, and steadfast in their delivery. Then there’s “Decisions Made in a Dream,” which thunders forward with relentless energy. Its interlocking rhythms and oscillating vibes shift between the ethereal and the visceral, wrapping the listener in a groove that balances the lighter elements of alternative rock with a haunting, gritty atmosphere.
The final track, “Waltzing Grey,” is a bold, anarchic statement. It embodies the destruction of social conventions, blending 80s production values with futuristic, dystopian imagery. It feels like an acid-dipped fever dream, where a robotic bird emerges from the pages of a pop-up book to wreak havoc in a cardboard jungle. The piece offers no clear answers, only a wild, interactive engagement with abstract concepts like human interaction with numbers and sound waves. Its boldness is both jarring and oddly liberating.
What makes Listless Playthings of Enormous Forces truly exceptional is Mono Means One‘s shared obsession with sonic textures. Their attention to detail is contagious, encouraging listeners to dive deep into every layer of their complex compositions. The album is not just “a few songs put together”; it is a masterful creation of polyrhythmic rock and lush, groovy backdrops. It stands as a demonstration of their sonic prowess, treating sound itself with the prestige and reverence it deserves. Listless Playthings of Enormous Forces is an experience—one that is sure to resonate long after the final note fades.
Stream/download Listless Playthings of Enormous Forces on Bandcamp. Mono Means One is on Instagram.
