{"product_id":"monochrome-set-lotus-bridge-cd","title":"THE MONOCHROME SET - Lotus Bridge - CD [MAR 13]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnashamedly literate UK post-punk sophisticates \u003cstrong\u003eThe Monochrome Set\u003c\/strong\u003e, having amassed a formidable catalogue of releases over 5 decades, are ready to release their new opus ’\u003cem\u003eLotus Bridge\u003c\/em\u003e’ on \u003cstrong\u003eTapete Records\u003c\/strong\u003e - the band's home for the last twelve years and six studio albums. Their instantly recognisable sound and darkly humorous lyrics have always set them apart. \u003cstrong\u003eBid\u003c\/strong\u003e's cerebral wit and debonair tones, melded to infectious melodies and deft songcraft of a cinematic and literary quality, have been quietly influential over a diverse set of artists since their inception and throughout different stages of their career. The band are, in essence, a national treasure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new album '\u003cem\u003eLotus Bridge\u003c\/em\u003e' is a psychedelic trip into Bid’s rich and fantastical dreamworld. Based on a singular dream that re-presented itself after an eight-month hiatus just when it became time to record again, Bid recounts in sharp detail the myriad of characters and surroundings that appeared in his dream and inspired this new set of stories to unfold. Bid elucidates, \"It seemed to me, as I wrote these lyrics, that this whole story was a metaphor for a crumbling civilisation, and whether or not I would leave it behind if I were given the opportunity. The other side of the bridge represents what seems to be an unknown future that I'm being asked to accept without explanation, and the other songs represent a journey back through the past and are a sometimes allegorical re-evaluation of it. I think that I managed to keep to a close narrative thread in the lyrics, and deliberately kept the underlying musical structures in a similar tempo and key. Even old poetry is timeless, if it is about personal experiences\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis new album follows on from Bid's recently released book of selected lyrics - \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eStrange Young Alien\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e - published by \u003cstrong\u003eVentil Verlag\u003c\/strong\u003e in November 2025 - a book that gives invaluable insight into his songwriting process and the more you learn about Bid's writing process, the more mysterious and intriguing things become.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'\u003cem\u003eLotus Bridge\u003c\/em\u003e' has a subtle but quite different feel to previous \u003cstrong\u003eTMS\u003c\/strong\u003e albums - the core use of electric piano and acoustic guitar, electric guitars often used in wide stereo, and overall a very focused and almost orchestral feel to it. There are also ambient sounds between many of the songs, so that the whole album feels like a connected whole. Bid is joined in The Monochrome Set for this recording by fellow original \u003cstrong\u003eAndy Warren\u003c\/strong\u003e on bass, \u003cstrong\u003eStephen Gilchrist\u003c\/strong\u003e on drums and \u003cstrong\u003eAthen Ayren\u003c\/strong\u003e on keyboards and guitar. \u003cstrong\u003eAlice Healey\u003c\/strong\u003e once again provides backing vocals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album was recorded at \u003cstrong\u003eOneCat Studio\u003c\/strong\u003e in London, engineered by \u003cstrong\u003eJon Clayton\u003c\/strong\u003e and produced by \u003cstrong\u003eJon Clayton\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eBid\u003c\/strong\u003e, and will be released by \u003cstrong\u003eTapete Records\u003c\/strong\u003e on 13th March 2026.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Lotus Bridge\u003cbr\u003e2. Diaphanous\u003cbr\u003e3. The Abominations Of Hubert\u003cbr\u003e4. Jenny Greenlocks\u003cbr\u003e5. Arcadia\u003cbr\u003e6. Athanatoi\u003cbr\u003e7. Leander\u003cbr\u003e8. Map Of The Night Sky\u003cbr\u003e9. Polaris Aa\u003cbr\u003e10. Our Sweet Souls\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tapete","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57117799154009,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/Monochrome_Set_-_Lotus_Bridge_-_2026.jpg?v=1769021628","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/monochrome-set-lotus-bridge-cd","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}