YOU ARE THERE

Mono is possibly one of the best post rock acts there is and "You are There" is the proof to support that statement. You are There is an extremely emotional album that has a melancholic feel to the music as Mono is not your typical post rock band yet it's being compared to other post rock bands such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor and other bands of the same genre because of their dark intriguing melodies. Their music tends to be a bit of simple but creates an extremely dark atmospheric melody filled with emotions flying all over head as you listen to it.

The first song The Flames beyond the Cold Mountain is an incredible introductory track of the album with a dark, hunting yet melodic sound with a huge explosive crescendo. The only flaw in this song was the ending because it's so boring and lacking. I usually tend to skip this part most of the time. A Heart has asked for the Pleasure isn't that much of a complete song (it actually is). I would just simply consider it much more like a transition for the next song because it has nothing that outstanding. Yearning on the other hand sounds a bit creepy and hollow at least in my opinion. After the first part Mono makes a short silenced part that lasts a couple of seconds all just to explode immediately of to next part in which I must admit that it really scared me a lot as it made me jump out of myself (it still scares me though). The ending is quite usual as the music starts to fade out slowly. Are you There? Is one of the most depressing songs I've ever heard out of all the music I've heard. It has the same rhythm for almost the entire song with barely no crescendo as you would normally find in other post rock bands. The Remains of the Day is yet another transitional track (at least in my opinion) which has the same melody on the whole song driven by a piano instead of a guitar. Nothing outstanding to listen. Moonlight is the most stand out song of this album, following the same formula of melancholic melodies with incredible dark rhythms and atmosphere with a sad ending of "hope".

In overall the album is a great album with just a few flaws that can be easily ignored. You are There is an intensive experience of emotional music. Recommended for fans of GY!BE and Explosions In the Sky and of post rock itself.

A true post rock masterpiece yet I find that something is missing. Close to five stars.