The track selector was rummaging around in the Indie bin when he came upon a relatively recent album by The Monochrome Set. It was released in March 2022, which is a strange time of year to be promoting a record with the title, Allhallowtide. The explanation is, probably, that the recording took place around the end of October and start of November 2021, when Hallowe’en, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day were observed in mediaeval Christian traditions. Over those three days, children would go door to door begging for soul cakes and saying prayers for their departed relatives. The modern practice of trick-or-treating may have originated in those long-gone traditions.

We first met The Monochrome Set in these pages back in 2015 with a post entitled R.S.V.P. That was a track-of-the-week from their first studio album, Strange Boutique, which was released in 1980. At that time, they were an all-male, 4-piece guitar band; in their 2022 incarnation, they also had keys and female vocals to call upon.

It’s hard to describe the appeal of these guys. Superficially, they write simple pop songs, presented in the context of an unremarkable Indie band. And yet … the tunes are catchy, the beat strides along with a jaunty gait, the lyrics are often intriguing, and the textures fit neatly together. They have their own inimitable Alternative Indie style.

Allhallowtide may only be a light snack for hungry music fans, but it is definitely food for the soul.

P.S. The Monochrome Set start a U.K. tour next month. See the home page of their website for details.