Monks Road Social - Lost In Rasa / So Long Soho (Ltd. 7")

(This review first appeared in issue #89 of Shindig! magazine.)

 

Two standout tracks from the collective's recent debut album Down The Willows. 'Lost In Rasa' features lead vocals by Dr. Robert of the Blow Monkeys. It's string-laden stoner soul at its finest. Think Marvin Gaye on the cover of What's Going On – face turned to the rain but always in search of beauty. A song full of sad yet dreamy reflections and longings.

The flipside features Pat Dam Smyth on lead vocals. A name new to many though he has history having left his native Northern Ireland over 20 years ago to follow a nomadic musical existence. Spells in Dublin, Liverpool, Los Angeles, Berlin and London have led to the worldly wisdom that informs 'So Long Soho', a lament to a quickly fading bohemian enclave. Imagine Ray Davies in a sentimental mood at the pub piano, then join in on the singalong chorus. Monks Road is where it's at!

 

Monks Road Social - Down The Willows

(This review first appeared in issue #88 of Shindig! magazine.)


This genre-shifting epic takes in downbeat soul, folk, jazz, dub and blues over its 18 tracks. It's the first full-length offering from this ever-evolving collective, is curated by chief Blow Monkey Dr. Robert, and shows a remarkable cohesion aided by Ben Trigg's string arrangements and a core band featuring Matt Deighton and Mick Talbot along with members of Galliano.

Its most sublime moments include 'Lost In Rasa' which echoes the troubled soul of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, and 'Still Got A Lot To Learn' where guest vocalist Nev Cottee employs his baritone voice in a spot of self-reflection. Also of note is a lushly arranged re-recording of Dr. Robert's 1994 track 'The Coming Of Grace'. Added to this is the wealth of new vocal talent with Pat Dam Smyth standing out with 'So Long Soho', a Kinks-style homage to a disappearing London, along with Samantha Whates' dub-folk track 'Three Miles Left'.