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Monks of Mellonwah - Turn the People

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This review of Monks of Mellonwah's Turn the People benefits from my having just listened to Arcade Fire's Relektor. How so, you ask? Well, Arcade Fire's latest album was co-produced by James Murphy, who is famous for creating wonderful dance music while fronting LCD Soundsystem. Introducing dance floor-oriented grooves into Arcade Fire's already-inviting musical stew only made it that much tastier. Then to hear Monks of Mellonwah's appropriately titled "Pulse," with its thumping beat on this new album, just seemed like the perfectly positioned musical segue. The track benefits from a bumping bass line, echoing keyboard parts and faraway electric guitar noodles. It's simply wonderful!

Strangely enough, this one track leaves vocalist Vikram Kaushik's voice sounding incredibly close to Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis, which I imagine was the furthest thing from his mind. However, musically Monks of Mellonwah's lean much closer to a traditional progressive rock act, than any sort of dance-rock hybrid, on most of the remaining tracks. Nevertheless, this latest effort finds the act mixing in new, welcome elements into an already solid musical base. Listen to "Escaping Alcatraz," and don't be surprised if Muse's epic rock reputation doesn't come immediately to mind. The vocal harmonies on "Downfall" also nicely bring Muse to mind.

For those that do not dig a steady diet of progressive rock, Monks of Mellonwah's Turn the People might be biting off just a little too much to chew. Nevertheless, there's no denying that - even for non progressive aficionados like moi - this latest full-length represents one giant growth step.

More info on the album here

Monks of Mellonwah - Turn the People
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