The listener is presented with a wealth of perspictives on Mono, the new release from Dutch artist Funus. Ostensibly rooted in black metal, the compositions offered are actually of a vastly more accessible nature, thus opening the artist to the possibility of appealing to more wider audiences than might perhaps at first be thought to be the case.

Closing piece On Unknown Wings offers fans of the black metal genre succour via the application of heavily rhythmic guitar, though yet here the vocal approach of the artist remains rooted in the ethereal; such expositors of indie noise such as My Bloody Valentine or perhaps Ride are valid comparisons, and the mixture in juxtaposition of the two styles can be seen to be a success.

The piece which precedes this, Never Heard, sees the artist at it’s most accessible; here, straightforward rock composition wins the day, and it would be easy to see this song becoming a favourite for anyone listening to the collection as a whole.

Extremity, or perhaps musical harshness, is largely at a premium; the artist often favours a state of bucolic reverie (as evidenced on the opening pieces, Gloom and Dusk and Would You) which fans of classic rock music may identify as owing much to the more pastoral works of artists such as Pink Floyd.

The addition of female vocals adds variety to some of the tracks, though variety is not missing through the compositional avenues used by the composer throughout. Mono is able to communicate a full spectrum of moods and feeling, and as such comes highly recommended to those who enjoy modern rock music at it’s most thoughtful or, perhaps sophisticated. Within the terms of reference used by the artist to construct the album, success could be said to have been achieved unequivocally. I offer my congratulations to all involved.

Mono releases on February 25th.