“The work: to make revolution irresistible”

-Toni Cade Bambara

From Monument to Masses are one of the few bands I’ve ever found exciting. For a politically active, or at least outwardly dissident group, they have a lot to say without speaking at all. The release uses clinically based samples strictly in accordance with the musical progression to create different atmospheres. This done in such an original and exciting way is a truly rare thing. It’s this reason that makes me feel that FMTMasses may be one of the most important bands I’ve ever heard.

Usually I take a deep horrific inhalation, followed by rather cynical moan when it comes to music mixed with politics as I openly refute the point that they mix well. This record has proved me rather Saul to Damascus wrong. I’d just never thought a message could be communicated in such a way.

What makes this 5-track long release so poignant to me is how subtly it works on the listener, as a slowly building drum beat kicks in, with a re-occurring guitar melody building over the top, there is a definitively progressive sound to this record. Grilling hip-hop and punk together never sounded so right. The amalgamated post-rock sound

“I am, a revolutionary”

The band itself is tireless and completely inexhaustible in their struggle to create some sort of revolution amongst their audience. The music has strong overtones of activism, and regular references to creatively striding to think in different ways as opposed to sticking to misguided or comfortable preconceptions.

“Time to Pick up the Gun. Revolution has come” builds into the fifth and final track Hasta La Victoria Siempre! Which goes through an atmospheric off-road drive into the sunset, as it slows, accelerates and implores the listener to relate to every emoted moment within the music. From luridly explosive outbursts to extended mesmerising rhythmic exploration, the music still has a message, calling for a deeply self-critical attitude to be taken by the American listener as they question the foundations of the society they live in. Incredibly powerful and exciting, the sound is worked by noise composer Thomas DiMuzio and has a distinctly passionate flavour behind it.

“We will not give up the fight”

The final antithesis of samples kicks in, between the Coca-cola theme of ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony’ and the call not to give up the fight. After this I can tell that the force of music and placement of the samples should exert an adverse effect on all those that listen to it.

“End the Terror War.”