Released 16th February 2009. The Monochrome Set defined themselves in the late 70s and 80s as England’s wittiest troubadours, avoiding the sombre overtones of post-punk by penning songs that had a clean 60s pop sensibility, allied to vocalist and guitarist Bid’s sandpaper-dry reflections on life and love.

Re-released for the first time on CD in the UK, this CD documents the band’s time at Blanco y Negro Records, the ‘mini-major’ set up by Mike Alway (Cherry Red) and Geoff Travis (Rough Trade). It was a turbulent period for the band, recounted in full in the accompanying booklet by a reflective Bid. Including the story behind ‘Letter From Viola’, perhaps the funniest ‘Dear John’ song ever written (hint; never allow your band-mates to cut your hair while touring Norway and expect romantic favours on your return).

Jacob’s Ladder / Sugarplum / Cargo / Take Foz / Letter From Viola / Don’t Touch / The Twitch / Wallflower / Starry Nowhere / Boom Boom / Cowboy Country / Bonus Tracks- Andiamo (B Side Of Jacob’s Ladder) / Big Ben Bongo (B Side Of Wallflower) / Le Boom Boom (B Side Of Jacob’s Ladder 12” Single) / Yo Ho Ho (B Side Of Jacob’s Ladder 12” Single) / Wallflower (Saloon Bar Mix)

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Suave; debonair; sophisticated. Haughty, perhaps, for those who favour the pejorative. Aristocratic in more than one sense, classy in at least as many. The Monochrome Set were effortlessly inventive, literate, poised and immaculate of tuneage, possessed of an internal dialogue as a band that allowed them to surf their own narrative.

They were just unlike anything else, in layman'sterms. Instead, their sound harked back to a golden era of British pop songwriters. But there was nothing retrogressive about their endeavors. Instead they wrote songs that recreated the drama and promise of a Pearl & Dean interval theme, veering from lullaby to mambo to harmonic pop, accompanied by lush melodies and irresistibly playful lyrics that embraced morbidity at one extreme, and pitch-perfect satire at another..

Brand new release of Monochrome Set'scomplete independent singles collection including b-sides and rare tracks Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim, a long-term fan of the band, has recorded a cover of He'sFrank with guest vocals by Iggy Pop and indeed this version has already been broadcast in Heroes.

He's Frank / Alphaville / Eine Symphonie Des Grauens / Lester Leaps In / The Monochrome Set / Mr Bizzaro / He's Frank (Slight Return) / Silicon Carne / Fallout / The Mating Game / j.d.h.a.n.e.y. / Cast A Long Shadow / The Bridge / Jet Set Junta / Love Goes Down The Drain / Killing Dave / House Of God (Live) / Sweet Death / Forever Young / Hurting You / Little Noises / I Love Lambeth / Kissy Kissy / All Over / Closing Time

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Formed in 1978 from "The B-Sides", whose line-up included Adam Ant, The Monochrome Set recorded for both Rough Trade and Virgin subsidiary Dindisc (see ACME 17CD). "Eligible Bachelors" was their first LP for Cherry Red and along with the singles "Cast A Long Shadow" and "Jet Set Junta" it brought them indie chart sucess.

The Jet Set Junta / I'll Scry Instead / On The 13th Day / Cloud 10 / The Mating Game / March Of The Eligible Bachelors / The Devil Rides Out / Fun For All The Family / The Midas Touch / The Ruling Class / The Great Barrier Riff.

A welcome release of The Monochrome Set's 1990 album "Dante's Casino". The Monochrome Set have a long and distinguished career, with a sound that has spanned numerous musical styles, but always with an eccentric art school feel.

Bella Morte / Walking With The Beast / Hate Male / The Wilderness / Golden Waters / House Of God / Up / Mindfield / White Lightning / Reverie

The Monochrome Set have a long and distinguished career, with a sound that has spanned numerous musical styles, but always with an eccentric, art-school feel. Formed in 1976, the band initially signed for Rough Trade and went on to release material under several labels before returning to an independent label that would share their eclectic pop approach, Cherry Red Records. Included in this complete selection are their indie hit singles "Jacob’s Ladder", "Jet Set Junta", "Cast A Long Shadow" and "He’s Frank."

He’s Frank (Slight Return) / Eine Symphonie Des Grauens / The Monochrome Set / The Strange Boutique / 405 Lines / The Jet Set Junta / The Ruling Class / The Mating Game / Cast A Long Shadow / Jacob’s Ladder / Up / /Jack / Killing Dave / Her Pain / Forever Young / Christine / Milk And Honey / Leather Jacket / I Love Lambeth / Mousetrap / Bliss / Kissy Kissy

A collection of rarities from their earliest recordings. Comprising of A and B sides from their Rough Trade released singles plus extracts from sessions for Radio 1, Capital Radio and EMI Records, this CD contains unique versions of such classic tracks as "The Jet Set Junta" and "He's Frank (Slight Return)".

Eine Symphonie Des Grauens / The Jet Set Junta / Love Zombies / Silicon Carne / The Ruling Class / Viva Death Row / Man With The Black Moustache / He's Frank (Slight Return) / Fun For All The Family / Lester Leaps In / Ici Les Enfants / Fat Fun / Alphaville / Avanti / Reach For Your Gun / Sweet Chariots
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He’s Frank (Slight Return) / Eine Symphonie Des Grauens / The Monochrome Set / The Strange Boutique / 405 Lines / The Jet Set Junta / The Ruling Class / The Mating Game / Cast A Long Shadow / Jacob’s Ladder / Up / /Jack / Killing Dave / Her Pain / Forever Young / Christine / Milk And Honey / Leather Jacket / I Love Lambeth / Mousetrap / Bliss / Kissy Kissy
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"Trinity Road" is a brand new studio album by The Monochrome Set, their ninth to date. Featuring 15 tracks, the album represents a return to the classic Monochrome Set we all know and love. Taken from the album was the single "I Love Lambeth", a song that concentrates on the band's experiences of London life.

Flamen Dialis / All Over / I Love Lambeth / Kissy Kissy / The Mousetrap / Snake/Fingers / Hula Honey / Albert Bridge / Two Fists / The Wurst Is Yet To Come / The Golden Apples Of The Sun / Hobb's End / Bar Madeira / Bliss / The April Dancer Affair/

The second of the new albums from the Monochrome Set written and performed by Bid, Andy Warren, Orson Presence, Lester Square and Trevor Reidy. Their distinctive sound pays more than a passing respect to Country especially on the final track "Twang 'em High" where Pedal Steel is provided by Tex Axile.

Milk And Honey / Pauper / Dr. Robinson / Achilles / Leather Jacket / Bed / Handsome Boy / The Ethereal One / UFO / Integrate Me / Twang 'em High.