Even though he likes to pick and chose his projects carefully, Jason Falkner has had an amazing run of recording dates—both on solo albums and as a sideman with the likes of Beck, Air and Paul McCartney—that would turn most musicians pea green. And Falkner has also been a crucial part of critically lauded releases by ’90s indie-rock heroes Eric Matthews, the Grays and Jellyfish, as well as getting his feet wet with original Paisley Underground cult combo the Three O’Clock. Falkner has a stellar solo set due out this summer called All Quiet On The Noise Floor that threatens to pass his previous solo release, I’m OK, You’re OK (from February), like a slow runner being lapped on the bases by a real speedburner. Falkner is guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him and our 2008 Jellyfish feature.
Falkner: The Monochrome Set is my absolute favorite of the art-school-dropout-sounding British new-wave bands. I have been a relatively lone champion for these brilliant popsters for decades. I was first exposed to their brilliance whilst in high school, when a fellow student passed along a cassette to me claiming it was his band but ended up being the Monochrome Set. I had no idea, so I instantly quit the cover band I was in and joined this new friend on his odyssey of betrayal (mine) and, more importantly, musical exploration! Ha ha. The music this band produced, especially in the late-’70s early-Rough Trade period, is astounding. Humorous, affecting and super tough sounding, but with dark and somewhat disturbing lyrics. I instantly found kindred spirits in these mysterious lads from the U.K. The best compilations of their early work are Volume, Contrast, Brilliance… or Black And White Minstrels.
