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Mono is the legendary instrumental, orchestral and indie rock band hailing from Tokyo, Japan. Their unique approach of combining moving orchestral arrangements and shoegaze guitar noise is held in extremely high regard all over the world; NME: “this is music for the Gods” & Pitchfork: “one of the most distinctive bands of the 21st Century”. This two-hour live-recording, with Orchestra and friends, celebrated the band’s 20th anniversary, which took place during the Beyond The Past-event at the Barbican Centre in London for an sold-out audience of 2.000 fans.

For two decades, MONO have defined and refined a kind of orchestral rock that is as emotional as it is experimental. Their 10 studio albums over those 20 years have established MONO as what Pitchfork described as “one of the most distinctive bands of the 21st Century”. Meanwhile, their live concerts are typically more subdued in instrumentation - and more supercharged in volume and voltage. Rarely is there the opportunity to combine those two experiences. In their 20-year history as a band, MONO have presented no more than a half-dozen live concerts featuring the support of an orchestra. Such events are not only unusual – they are also unforgettable.

“Beyond The Past - Live In London With The Platinum Anniversary Orchestra” documents MONO’s extraordinary performance from the Beyond The Past-event that celebrated the band’s 20th anniversary, which took place at the historic Barbican Centre in London, England on December 14, 2019. For that once-in-a-lifetime event, MONO selected a memorable line-up of old and new friends, including fellow Japanese underground icons, Boris and Envy, as well as French post-metal legends, Alcest and UK collaborators A.A. Williams and Jo Quail. The event culminated with MONO performing with The Platinum Anniversary Orchestra, featuring the National Youth String Orchestra to a rapt, sold-out audience of 2,000.

Playing through a two-hour set that touches on the band’s entire history, the sheer euphoria and dynamic resonance that engulfed the massive crowd was captured in brilliant detail by MONO’s live sound engineer, Matt Cook. Meticulously mastered by Bob Weston and presented here in its entire two-hour glory, “Beyond The Past” is one of the most essential MONO recordings. Packaged in a 2CD and a very luxurious 3LP-gatefold with accompanying 40-page photo book, this is the rare document of an event that is an event in and of itself.

Tracklisting:

1. God Bless
2. After You Comes The Flood
3. Breathe
4. Nowhere, Now Here
5. Death In Rebirth
6. Dream Odyssey
7. Sorrow
8. Meet Us Where The Night Ends
9. Halcyon (Beautiful Days)
10. Ashes In The Snow
11. Exit In Darkness
12. Com