I suppose you might call this a concept album. As the title suggests, there’s something of a spy theme to it, and while holed up in a shed in Bournemouth, Mono:tempo has spent the last few years immersing himself in everything from Bond films to 70’s cop shows – and a whole lot of 80s shit. Yes, there is a strong element of kitschs involved, but it’s all in the execution, and it’s here that Momo:tempo comes into his own, and the punning title gives a fair indication of the theatrical style in which he’s approached the material.
There’s no ‘Sabotage’ moment here: instead, ‘Shaft’ style funk grooves, badass wah-wah action, orchestral strikes and sweeping strings meet with Casiotone electronica and sleek retro disco. ‘Thespionage’ draws on every cliché and genre trapping going, yet somehow still sounds fresh, which is testament to its execution. By turns inspired and silly (really, what else would you expect from an album that contains tracks entitled ‘A Chopper, A Copper and a Motorcade’ and ‘Lightbulbs Swinging’, ‘Thespionage’ swings between cinematic high drama and small-screen budget drama, and does so with rare style.
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Momo:tempo Online
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