It's Only Us

by Monophonics

Overview

Well into their second decade with four albums in the rearview, Monophonics tighten their alliance with Ohio's Colemine Records, the dusty soul specialists who have issued some of their singles, for It's Only Us. Recorded at their Transistor Sound Studio home base, this is a little trippier and looser than the preceding Sound of Sinning. Maybe it's merely coincidental, but it's certainly appropriate that the Bay Area band, recording for a Midwest label, move a little closer here toward the early-'70s output of Chicago and Detroit labels like Curtom, Cadet Concept, and Westbound. They stretch out on "Last One Standing," unfurling a rolling groove that recalls Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up," and at some points recall the slightly eerie rock/soul experiments Charles Stepney conducted with the Rotary Connection (though the arsenal of keyboards for those sessions wasn't nearly as extensive). At the same time, Monophonics often allude to the kind of turmoil and uncertainty shared by the evoked and current eras, intensifying the fraught mood by submerging their sound in reverb. No matter how much Kelly Finnigan cloaks or smears his sweet and sour voice, he's one of the more affecting singers of his kind, the focal point amid an expertly arranged band and supporting voices, strings, and brass. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	04/23/2021
Label:	COLEMINE RECORDS
UPC:	0674862655489

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Monophonics   Primary Artist
Alex Baky   Sax (Baritone),Flute,Sax (Tenor)
Max Ramey   Guitar,Bass (Electric)
Danny Lubin-Laden   Trombone
Ian McDonald   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Baritone),Guitar (Electric),Keyboard Synthesizer,Guitar (12 String Electric),Mellotron,Mini Moog,Organ (Hammond),Sitar (Electric)
Kimiko Joy   Vocals (Background)
Rich Armstrong   Trumpet
Kelly Finnigan   Piano,Vocals,Optigan,Mellotron,Xylophone,Micro Moog,Percussion,Vibraphone,Fuzz Guitar,Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond),Piano (Electric),Arp String Ensemble,Vocals (Background)
Matt Szemela   Violin
Keith Lawrence   Viola
Will Phillips   Percussion
Shaina Evoniuk   Violin
Destiny Muhammad   Harp
Mike Rinta   Trombone
Lewis Patzner   Cello
Viveca Hawkins   Vocals (Background)
Joe Ramey   Fuzz Guitar
Austin Bohlman   Drums,Percussion
Ryan Scott   Trumpet,Flugelhorn,Percussion

Technical Credits

Alex Baky   Horn Arrangements,Group Member
Max Ramey   Composer,Group Member
Leroi Conroy   Artwork
Monophonics   Horn Arrangements
Danny Lubin-Laden   Horn Arrangements
Erica Caldwell   Cover Photo
Ian McDonald   Additional Production,Composer,Engineer,Group Member
Kelly Finnigan   Group,Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
JJ Golden   Mastering
Chris Edwards   Engineer
Shaina Evoniuk   String Arrangements
Danny Lyon   Cover Photo
Austin Bohlman   Composer,Group Member
Ryan Scott   Group Member,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements