Takaakira ‘Taka’ Goto, lead guitarist with Japanese instrumental band MONO, is branching out with a new solo effort, and we have the UK exclusive stream of his debut solo album Classical Punk And Echoes Under The Beauty above, ahead of its release on April 27 via Pelagic Records. Originally written and recorded in 2003, the album was only recently completed, as the Tokyo-based composer had been focusing on his work with MONO. "I wasn’t actually thinking about sharing this album with anyone at the time," Goto said. "It didn’t sound like MONO, so I left it as a trail to my envisioned world, as my personal collection." Goto has previously composed works for films such as Snow Angels and All Gods Can Dance but this will be his first album under his own name.
MONO have released nine albums since forming in 1999, collaborating on a live album with the New York Symphony Orchestra. Goto’s solo release follows the April 13 release of MONO’s limited edition photo-book, containing 100 pages of black and white photography and two CDs documenting the band’s last European tour.
