The Monochrome Set

The Monochrome Set emerged with a sophisticated and clever post-punk style that drew clear inspiration from the swinging pop sounds of the 1960s as well as the twangy textures of surf music. Under the guidance of Bid’s sharply intelligent songwriting and the band’s precise instrumental work, their early releases blended unusual lyrical themes with immediate, memorable melodies. Their energetic first single from 1979, “He’s Frank,” established the group’s approach throughout the early 1980s across a series of albums that included the early standout Eligible Bachelors, where Bid’s material meshed with the ensemble’s expanding sonic range. The original lineup lost momentum by the mid-1980s, yet Bid reassembled a core group of familiar musicians during the 1990s to produce records that retained the original character while making subtle adjustments to contemporary tastes. Following another breakup and a subsequent return prompted by Bid’s recovery from an aneurysm, the band issued albums in the 2010s such as 2016’s Cosmonaut, demonstrating that their refined, melody-driven guitar pop remained vital and had in fact reached new heights. Nothing about 2022’s Allhallowtide altered that assessment.

Originally known as the British art-school punk outfit the B-Sides, the group altered its identity and trajectory to become Adam & the Ants, prompting guitarist and vocalist Bid along with guitarist Lester Square to leave and establish the Monochrome Set. Formed in London during 1978, the band—which also featured bassist Jeremy Harrington, formerly of Gloria Mundi and Mean Street, together with drummer J.D. Crowe, ex of the Art Attacks—was promptly signed by Rough Trade and released three singles in 1979: “He’s Frank,” “Eine Symphonie des Grauens,” and the signature track “Monochrome Set,” each distinct in both substance and musical direction.

When former B-Sides bassist Andy Warren grew weary of Adam & the Ants, he rejoined Bid and Square, taking Harrington’s place. The Monochrome Set delivered their debut album, the cabaret-inflected Strange Boutique, in 1980, followed that same year by the singles “405 Lines” and “Apocalypso” plus the more approachable full-length Love Zombies. With guitarist Foz, keyboardist Caroline Booth, and drummer Nick Wesolowski now aboard, they adopted a brighter, more tuneful approach on 1982’s Eligible Bachelors; the following year brought the satirical single “The Jet Set Junta,” which addressed the Falklands Islands conflict and achieved notable success, while the compilation Volume, Contrast, Brilliance: Sessions & Singles, Vol. 1 also appeared.

Square’s exit led the Monochrome Set further toward lighter pop on 1985’s “Jacob’s Ladder,” a direction that fully took shape on the nostalgically oriented The Lost Weekend. Poor sales prompted a breakup, but the band reconvened in 1989 around Bid, Square, and Warren, augmented by new keyboardist Orson Presence. The 1990 release Dante’s Casino failed to improve their commercial standing, yet they persisted with Charade in 1993, Misere in 1994, and Trinity Road in 1995 before splitting again in 1998, at which point Bid launched Scarlet’s Well. In 2011 several members of the Well joined a revived Monochrome Set that also included Bid, Square, and Warren. Now on Disquo Bleu, they issued Platinum Coils in 2012 and Super Plastic City in 2013. Spaces Everywhere arrived in 2015 on Tapete Records, the same label that released the 1983 collection’s sequel, Volume, Contrast, Brilliance: Unreleased & Rare, Vol. 2, the following year.

Remaining with Tapete, the band recorded 2016’s Cosmonaut, on which Bid handled all guitar parts following Square’s departure; keyboardist John Paul Moran and drummer Mike Urban rejoined for the sessions. This configuration produced Maisieworld, issued early in 2018 to mark the group’s fortieth anniversary, while the label also put out 1979-1985: Complete Recordings. Cherry Red contributed an expanded three-CD edition of 1982’s Eligible Bachelors, available that March.

The group maintained its rapid output and prepared another studio album for late 2019. Titled Fabula Mendax, the record centered on the stable lineup of Bid, Warren, Moran, and Urban, augmented by additional session musicians, and presented material said to derive from fifteenth-century manuscripts by Armande de Pange, a companion of Joan of Arc. After a brief pause the band returned in 2022 with the characteristically ornate Allhallowtide. Alongside Bid, Warren, and Urban, keyboardist Athen Ayren had joined, while vocalist Alice Healey supplied ethereal backing to Bid’s theatrical delivery. Tapete issued the album in March 2022. A year later the label followed with Radio Sessions: Marc Riley BBC 6 Music 2011-2022, gathering performances from the influential program that spanned their 2010s output and selected earlier tracks.