Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of MONO’s debut album, “Under The Pipal Tree,” the band will release a unique limited-edition Iridescent Forest Night colored vinyl variant to commemorate the special occasion.
“It’s been 25 years since our debut album, “Under The Pipal Tree,” was released by Tzadik, and I’d like to be the first to express my gratitude to our longtime partner, Temporary Residence Ltd. for releasing a commemorative edition to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
As a young band formed in Tokyo in 1999 and releasing a self-produced EP in 2000, we faced the practical problem of not knowing where we belonged in the world. However, we never had the slightest desire to do anything to sell, to make a living, or to become famous. We didn’t care at all if we were seen as reckless or foolhardy. We simply had a strong will and determination to pursue music, guided by our souls and with utter honesty and sincerity. In music, we could talk about our dreams, scream, cry, or anything else, and it was the only way we could control the various emotions inside us. We wanted to capture as much of our yearning for a bright future as possible, as well as the overwhelming anxiety, fear, sadness, and faint hope we felt in the album.
We recorded at a studio in Tokyo. Since we had almost no budget, we asked a friend to rent the studio space for six hours per day — from 12 AM to 6 AM after regular business hours — at a special price for two days. The studio was small, and once we set up our amps and drum kit, there was barely any room to stand. Furthermore, our amps back then were much louder than they are now (mind-blowingly loud), so it was almost miraculous that we were able to record all the songs except for one (“L’america”) in 12 hours. In terms of sound, we wanted to combine the noise guitar sounds of My Bloody Valentine with the cinematic world of Ennio Morricone, so we asked an acquaintance to introduce us to a cello player, who played on the album’s final track, “Human Highway.” Looking back, I believe this was the beginning and catalyst for our later style of using strings and orchestras. It was a hectic, intense 12 hours, and we were so focused (we had no choice but to concentrate). But I felt like we’d accomplished everything we could at the time, and I remember feeling incredibly happy that the four of us were able to work together and release our first full-length album.
Look at a photo of yourself from 25 years ago. I’m sure most people would be amazed at how much you’ve changed—your face, hairstyle, figure, and the clothes you’re wearing—to the point where you can’t even recognize yourself. 25 years is a long time. For us, this album, “Under the Pipal Tree,” truly feels like a remnant of who we were, like a completely different person, yet at the same time, it’s unmistakably us. I’d be thrilled if you could listen to this album while imagining the feelings and world we truly felt at the time.” – Takaakira ’Taka’ Goto, MONO
Pre-Order “Under the Pipal Tree – 25th Anniversary Edition”here: https://www.temporaryresidence.com/products/trr282
Tracklist:
01. Karelia (Opus 2)
02. The Kidnapper Bell
03. Jackie Says
04. Op Beach
05. Holy
06. Error #9
07. L’America
08. Human Highway