Whether you’ll like this or not all hinges on your view on the sleevenotes: “There was no rehearsal or discussion about key, tempo or feel and no overdubbing. It just came out like this.” If that fills you with joy untrammelled, this is something of a beautiful find. If it makes your stomach cramp, then stop reading here.
Monstrance is the result of three days’ worth of improvisation, reuniting Andy Partridge and Barry Andrews on record for the first time since the release of XTC’s Go 2 in 1978, with Andrews’ old Shreikback compadre, Martyn Baker, on drums. At its best, it brings to mind Mogwai and King Crimson Mk III. Pagoda Tailfin is all floating and ethereal, while the blues lock-down of Chaingang evokes early XTC, only much, much slower. The loveliness of Andrew’s piano work on Little Field is levelled by Partridge’s squonking guitar squalls.
Let’s be frank, though: it’s one to own, but you’re not really going to play it much.
