The Sound Of You / Operator Help

CIAO KETCHUP RECORDINGS

Playing their own take on swooning indie pop, Mono Taxi are an Anglo-French outfit whose songs fizz with the same warmth and humanity as bands such as Drugstore, Joy Zipper and Helium.

New single THE SOUND OF YOU, sees the four piece returning with a song to restore your faith in good old fashioned indie pop; frontwoman Ellice Williams crooning deliciously over fuzzy guitar chords and clattering drum beats.  Wallowing in a languid, wistful moodiness and veering between Mary Chain like guitar noise and quiet moments of reflection, THE SOUND OF YOU is a pitch perfect lesson in alterna-pop brilliance.  The flipside OPERATOR HELP sees Ellice Williams purring gently against stark guitar chords, proving that Mono Taxi are a band who can impress by sheer force of personality and songs.

A welcome return from Mono Taxi, THE SOUND OF YOU finds the band on wonderfully superb form.

BIOGRAPHY

Mono Taxi are an Anglo-French musical coterie, comprising Yorkshire-born chanteuse Ellice Williams, French-born, British-hearted Antoine Collin, Parisian schoolfriend Paul Mabillot and Kent-born and raised bassist Steve Ingersent.

After featuring on last year's LE NOUVEAU ROCK 'N' ROLL compilation on V2 and mailing some demos to a few British radio types they had their demo played multiple times by both Steve Lamacq and Xfm's Claire Sturgess.  Their DIY ethos - making their own artwork, cutting each other's hair, getting friends to take photos and make lo-fi videos - has enabled this savvy bunch to be more than prepared for the launch of their debut release on new indie label Play It Again 7 in the autumn, produced by ace newcomer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Dead 60s)

With diverse influences and cross-channel passions, ranging from Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Moldy Peaches to Serge Gainsbourg and the playfulness of 90s American alternative music, the cross-breed sound of Mono Taxi has taken unique shape.  They have melody, charm and understated cool, with a pop sensibility, as the finely-balanced harmonies of Ellice and Antoine sit sensually on a bed of punky synth electronics.  Going against the grain of all things garage and art-rock, and yet somehow fitting in perfectly, they want you to dance - but to a slightly different beat.

LINE UP

Ellice Williams>vocals/keyboards

Antoine Collin>guitar/vocals

Paul Mabillot>drums

Steve Ingersent>bass

DISCOGRAPHY

KIND OF BETTER/HARDY SMILE (2005>Play It Again 7)

Kind Of Better

Hardy Smile

THE SOUND OF YOU (Ciao Ketchup Recordings>2007)

The Sound Of You

Operator Help

LINKS

Mono Taxi>www.monotaxi.com

FURTHER LISTENING

Echobelly>Everyone's Got One (1994>Pandemonium)

Joy Zipper>American Whip (2005>Vertigo)

Drugstore>Drugstore (1995>Honey)