Monokino – Human Error

On Boring Combination the classic line is uttered: “Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll/It’s the most boring thing in the world/And I’m here to ruin your night…” Ooofph.

On Boring Combination the classic line is uttered: “Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll/It’s the most boring thing in the world/And I’m here to ruin your night…” Ooofph.

Monokino – Human Error

http://www.monokino.com/ http://www.konkurrent.nl/

 

A really enjoyable LP; one that is choc-full of great synth pop.  Human Error boasts some very clever synth arrangements and some pretty remarkable vocal performances too. The lad on vox is very much a fan of Marc Almond, albeit without ever trying to copy any of that chanteuse’s mannerisms. Rather, he bears his heart for all to see on tracks like New Kid, I’m Not What I Wanted to Be and Someone Strange. On Boring Combination the classic line is uttered: “Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll/It’s the most boring thing in the world/And I’m here to ruin your night…” Ooofph.

 

It’s a weird LP, and (as an example) Move On is a very strange song indeed, what with the yearning to be in a crows nest on a ship, and the swirling music lending a slightly Metro-Goldwyn Mayer air to proceedings. And what is Toast about, pray? As said, the synth parts deserve special mention; it’s as if the band has amalgamated every ‘80s synthesizer sound into one large “electronic trifle”… In the course of a minute, you may hear Soft Cell, New Order, Kraftwerk, Associates, Cabaret Voltaire and Freur. Bonkers. There’s a good line in angry guitar too, nodding a bit to Hook & Albrecht.

 

The slow songs are great; Love Songs is a bobby dazzler, gloomy, introspected, and stripped back to a Gothic grumble that threatens to go all Joe Meek on you.

 

I find this LP weirdly addictive.

 

Words: Richard Foster