Galaxy Train
Menow - flannel Menow
Our album of the month for October. RIYL Tenniscoats, Eddie Marcon, Pastels. OUR RESTOCK IS SHIPPING FROM JAPAN SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT IT MAY TAKE A WEE BIT LONGER TO SHIP OUT TO YOU! :-)
On the Pacific coast in central Honshu lies Nagoya, a city home to the world’s largest railway hub, Earth's biggest planetarium and 7 million inhabitants. It’s also home to Yukiya Kato and Maiko Matsuo who, together as Menow, capture the gentle power of the DIY independent underground.
On Flannel, the duo’s third full length record, armed with classical guitars, a couple analogy synths, and two microphones, Menow travel the borderland between fantasy and reality. In a not so dissimilar fashion to their contemporaries (Tenniscoats, Eddie Marcon, Nagisa Ni Te + Spirit Fest spring to the forefront of my mind), Menow create a sort of acid folk that feels otherworldly; haunting, close, and so free flowing that it sounds like it all comes as second nature to Yuikya and Maiko.
istening to Menow makes me feel like I’ve entered a new secret world, soothing and soaring in equal measure. The record, released on cassette by Galaxy Train (Tony Jay, fuvk), is an 8 track long exploration through simple melody lines, gently driving background synth and the occassional field recording. Flannel is two artists creating in equal artistic measure. It’s not too difficult to imagine the two of them mic-ed up in a bedroom, floating above all 7 million people in the city, recording a track like 海溝にて鳴く鹿を見たか. It all feels so familiar and tender, like it’s always existed in the back rooms of quiet cafes and the DIY underground of Japan.
Playing with Linda Smith, the Kitchenettes, and Cindy (after a flying visit to California), Menow aren’t really our little secret, but it still feels like they are - it sounds like they are - and I’ve never been very good at keeping secrets, anyway.
An album of the year, an album for all the seasons, an album solidified into Monorail history already.
Each cassette tape comes hand numbered, with a digital download, lyric sheet, Menow sticker and Galaxy Train sticker.
Pickup available at Glasgow
Usually ready in 24 hours. Unless it's a Pre-Order
Please note that we are a physical record shop so some items may be unsealed but they are unplayed and brand new. If you would really like a sealed copy, please get in touch with us in advance of your purchase.
