#mark monnone

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4/3/25.

When I mentioned Mark Monnone yesterday, it made me remember that his project, Monnone Alone (Melbourne, Australia), has a new LP coming out. Aside from being a great person and the mastermind of Lost & Lonesome Recording Co., Mark is an outstanding pop musician in his own right. Micah and I saw it firsthand when Monnone Alone opened for The Zebras years ago in Sacramento. Additionally, he was a founding member of The Lucksmiths. Special guest appearances on the new album include Steph Hughes (Dick Diver) and Gary Olson (The Ladybug Transistor).

"Dry Doubt" has a definite Pavement-sounding guitar and feel. But Mark's voice and melodies are all his own. "Ways To Wear My Hair" was originally released back in 2023 on a lathe-cut from Royal Mint (Finland).

Bands like The Slow Summits and Chime School ply a similar sound to Monnone Alone. Meritorio Records and Repeating Cloud will be releasing "Here Comes the Afternoon" in early May 2025.

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4/2/25.

What is it about super nice Australian musicians/label tycoons. Lachlan Denton (Osborne Again), Mark Monnone (Lost & Lonesome Recording Co.) and Guy Blackman (Chapter Music) are all salt-of-the-earth type folk. There are more, but yesterday, I proclaimed a two-day Chapter Music rage, so let's get to it.

Guy Blackman's 2008 "Adult Baby" was reissued to acclaim last year. Now, 17 years later come his follow up LP, "Out of Sight". It's not like Guy was a hermit - he's run one of the most diverse and respected indie labels since the early 1990s. But, according to Guy:

“I got a bit scarred singing my little open-hearted queer songs in the late 2000s, it was a different time back then...So I clammed up for a while, and threw myself into releasing other people’s music instead. Then a few years ago I poked my head out and realised things were changing. I got emboldened to start putting my music into the world again. Of course now things are getting much worse, but this time I’m like ‘f**k ‘em!’”

"Out of Sight" was made with the assistance of Liam Parsons and Steven Blair (Good Morning) and Liam Halliwell (Snowy). There's a duet with Julien Gasc too. Guy Blackman and Chapter Music are based in Melbourne, Australia.

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7/20/23.

In Monnone I Trust. Whether it be as a member of The Lucksmiths, the founder of Monnone Alone, or the CEO of label Lost and Lonesome, I trust Mark Monnone's instincts.

The Small Intestines are a new Melbourne, Australia based band. "Hide in Time" is actually a co-release with Spanish label Meritorio Records. "Horse Riding" (not to be confused with the great Euros Childs song) is the only song available. But according to the Bandcamp page, The Small Intestines member Tristan Peach had a dream involving George Harrison and Tom Petty, and "Horse Riding" does have a bit of a Traveling Wilburys vibe. Members of The Small Intestines have been in bands Chook Race and Peach Happening.

The Bandcamp page also drops names like The Bats, The Go-Betweens and Felt in a RIYL manner.

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3/10/23.

Lost and Lonesome Recording Co. (Mark Monnone's label) just announced a 7" from longtime producer and "middle-aged has-been", Gareth Parton (Melbourne, Australia). "Molecule/Soft World" is being released by his band Hot Copper which has members from The Lucksmiths and The Zebras to name a few.

Oddly, this is his musical debut, but he's had a long and lustrous career as a producer for bands like The Beta Band (check out Steve Mason's new release on Domino) and The Go! Team to name a few.

While sounding like an amalgamation of the bands who populate Hot Coppers, the 2nd song, "Soft World" recalls Belle and Sebastian ("If You're Feeling Sinister era).

Apparently, there is a full-length due in May 2023.

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3/11/26.

Yesterday, in our post about Dorotea's release it was mentioned that Appetite's first release was Skiftande Enheter. As luck would have it, an email alerted me to some found copies of The Foots CD, originally released in 1999. It was Lost and Lonesome's first release as well.

Lost and Lonesome - wow, a label that has been around for nearly 30 years and been consistently great. Run by Mark Monnone (The Lucksmiths and Monnone Alone), I'm guessing he's not motivated by the almighty dollar (in this case the Australian one). The Bandcamp write-up describes the release thusly: "Dreamy, sparse and introspective are three words that would aptly describe The Foots. Shambolic, unpolished and warm are three others."

I would say it reminds me of Flying Nun (Look Blue Go Purple, etc.) crossed with The Fiery Furnaces, The Spinanes and maybe Young Marble Giants. Band members were also in bands Hurdy Gurdy, Slurper, and Tlot Tlot.

[polaroidblog]

There's a path somewhere with your name upon

Nella canzone che apre e dà il titolo al suo nuovo album, Mark Monnone a un certo punto confessa di sentirsi "too young to die / too old to try to begin again". È senz'altro un modo per nascondersi e far finta di credersi ancora immaturo...

[bandcampsnoop]

2/12/19.

Monnone Alone ( Melbourne, Australia) is at it again.  The “Cut Knuckle” single from last year was outstanding, and now Emotional Response presents another single.  I actually like Mark Monnone’s solo stuff better than his work with The Lucksmiths.  There is a definite Pastels vibe here.

Monnone Alone normally releases on Mark’s label, Lost & Lonesome Records.  And while this is available from his label it is also being handled by Emotional Response, Meritorio Records (Spain) and Royal Mint (Finland).

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Golden days, before they disappear

il ritorno di Monnone Alone!