Dream worlds and floating soundscapes: With the post-rock of Mono and the alternative-country of David Eugene Edwards, a melancholic summer is upon us.
Mono – “Snowdrop” (9 points)
For the Japanese post-rockers Mono, the recordings for their 13th studio album “Snowdrop” (9 points) were special. Because one person was missing from the studio for the first time in countless years: Steve Albini. After recording the famous previous album “Oath” with him in February 2023, he died in May 2024. Mono were faced with the unpleasant question of which producer they would trust, after band leader Takaakira “Taka” Goto had produced the mini-albums “Heaven Vol. 3” and “Heaven Vol. 4” together with Jeremy deVine. The choice fell on Brad Wood, a decades-long friend of Albinis, who had already worked with The Jesus Lizard, Liz Phair, Placebo and The Smashing Pumpkins. Wood had already mixed Mono’s latest EP and probably remained in the best memory. Just as Albini remained in good memory at Mono.
In his studio in Chicago, they recorded “Snowdrop” with Wood in September 2025, another post-rock masterpiece by the Japanese. So full of love, passion, elegy and beauty. Perfect, dream-like music to let your thoughts drift or temporarily turn off the world around you – sometimes loud, sometimes quiet. If they had the oversong “Run On” on “Oath”, this time they conjured a song called “Gerbera” out of the hat, the intensity of which overwhelms you.
“Snowdrop” is – like all her albums – very emotional. The band explained: “Without exception, every person will have to leave this world one day and be separated from their loved ones. With this album, we wanted to express our eternal gratitude to all those precious people who have accompanied us on our life’s journey. We believe that this feeling is the only thing that can fill the void in our hearts and alleviate the deep pain and sorrow of loss.”
David Eugene Edwards – “Mercurial Silence” (7 points)
In mid-May, a long-held wish came true: 16 Horsepower, the alternative/gothic country musicians who disbanded in 2005, were back on stage in their original line-up for the first time in 21 years. It consists of the two Frenchmen Pascal Humbert (bass) and Jean-Yves Tola (drums) as well as the American David Eugene Edwards (vocals, guitar, banjo). Between 1996 and 2002 they released four critically acclaimed albums. Musically, their songs combine country, rock, hillbilly, folk and the Cajun music of the 1920s and 1930s. An important feature of her compositions is Edward’s pastoral vocals. Funfact: His grandfather was actually an itinerant preacher.
After the exit of 16 Horsepower at the time, Edwards turned to a musically similar project: Woven Hand (also spelled Wovenhand). With this, he has published numerous albums since 2002. He also recorded a joint album with former Einstürzende-Neubauten bassist Alexander Hacke (“Risha”, 2018). After releasing his first solo album “Hyacinth” relatively late three years ago, his second with “Mercurial Silence” has just been released.
Compared to his musical alternative-country/folk past, Edwards takes a modern path on “Mercurial Silence”. Drum computers and synthesizer-generated electronic sounds and floating sound surfaces have found their way into his songs, even before the autotune effect he does not shy away (“Mithudrsa”). Perhaps a step too far for purists, but he once again creates exciting songs that cannot be compared to anything else. And that’s not just in his unique voice.
Source: Tageblatt
