The Monochrome Set

In many ways, this is The Monochrome Set's él Records album.

Definitely not a rock album, more eclectic, with influences spanning the 1920's to the early 1960's. On this album, Bid is crafting his skills as a songwriter: the minimalist "Cowboy Country" could be a Burt Bacharach song without the orchestra, "Sugarplum" a Hoagy Carmichael song but with a pop group, "Jacob's Ladder" an early 1960's twangtastic beat song.

There is a tangible Latin influence throughout the album, even a little Flamenco, especially on the songs "Cargo" and "Don't Touch", all with a feather-light touch. The very sparse and light nature of the album probably worked against it commercially in an 80's world of heavy drums, rock guitar and New Romantic synths. But, 40 years later, the quality of the songwriting shines through.