Monoganon

by Stephen McLeod on Wed, 2011/07/13 - 12:54pm Post to Twitter

Monoganon was the solo project of one John B McKenna, which has swelled to include a number of writers that have produced a rather brilliant LP named ‘Songs To Swim To’. Since the release was funded by the Scots Art Council and Winning Sperm Party label, it throws up a few questions about whether or not the two are related… I think it’s best we leave that as a mystery.

After we appealed for unknown artists to send in their music themselves rather than fight with the deluge of PR-backed submissions, John got in touch to let us have a listen. Even though the album itself came out last year, we’re glad he did; it’s more than worth shining a spotlight on.

I’m no big fan of overt Scottish accents on record, and I’ve made this fairly clear in my reviews for years. I aint no vocal nepotist. They always sound so faked and try-hard. When I fired up the first track Monomania and heard the Celtic brogue I was preparing myself for the worst… yet another over-pronounced Indie-pish record.

Thankfully, I’m surprised to say that the initial reaction was completlely wrong, as after listening through once, I love the whole style and feel of the album from Monoganon. John’s accent is natural and charming, just the way a Scot singing should come across like. On top of that, the genre is far from bland acoustic pop: The more you listen, the more you hear, with extra guitar parts, plinks and other samples perfectly placed to balance everything out aurally. Needle-green is recorded ‘out in the wilds’ with a hand-held piece of kit, and has multiple takes spliced together in a wonderful way that literally swirls from one side of your head to another. Listen to it whilst up to your eyeballs on painkillers to have your mind blown. Overall, the soft authenticity that permeates the entire aura of the music is up there with some of my favourite songwriters around: Evan Dando, Iain Archer and the rest… I’m really digging it.

I promise I will never use that expression ever again.

Find John on Twitter, Flickr, and download the entire album for free here. You really must.