Monochrome

Monochrome is a German and French indie pop rock group, active since 1996. The band is based in Stuttgart, Germany, and Basel, Switzerland, and begins as the hardcore band Dawnbreed before developing a broader sound that includes pop, indie and noise elements.

History

Under the Dawnbreed name, the group releases six singles and two albums between 1994 and 2000. Added female vocalists and a saxophone player expand the line-up into the Dawnbreed/Monochrome Collective, while the band continues to keep a strong live presence. In 1999, the first Monochrome long-player, Laser, appears. The following year, after the drummer leaves for health reasons, the band ends the Dawnbreed chapter and continues only as Monochrome.

After that change, the line-up goes through a period of turnover, and the band focuses on teaching new members the existing material rather than immediately writing large amounts of new music. The releases from this period reflect the band’s line-up and sound at the time they are recorded. The group also makes it a priority to issue new material before touring.

Live activity and releases

Monochrome tours four times across Europe and twice on the east coast of the United States, with shows at venues including ABC No Rio in New York and the Black Cat Club in Washington, DC. The revolving membership later settles into a stable line-up, with four members living and working in Stuttgart and two based in Basel.

Èclat, the band’s first long-player since Laser, is released on Sticksister Records in 2006. It is followed by a tour of France, Spain, Belgium and Germany, along with several European summer festival appearances.

Musical style

The band’s music combines hardcore roots with energetic guitar pop, punk and indie elements, and is described as difficult to categorise. The wider Monochrome name is also associated with a Romanian electronic project by Livio & Roby feat. George G, but the German/French group is the longstanding indie rock act established in 1996.