The Impossible Leap in 100 Simple Steps

This music is a threat. The common threads that run through early post-punk, dub, soul, and ambient breakbeat turntablism have been woven together here in a smooth, yet huge-sounding, sonic tapestry, which veils the bright and determined faces of the growing People's Movement. Pensive guitars shimmer, loop, and invert, while bass, keys, and rhythms construct the broad foundation upon which the band dances, builds, and celebrates. Meticulously orchestrated and layered to produce a depth akin to Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the undulating music of From Monument to Masses evokes a deceptive calm, a rhythmic hypnosis, and periodic explosions of unrelenting demand. Taking inspiration from the stone-faced determination of Fugazi, but equally from the clever playfulness of DJ Shadow, FMTM is ever mindful of the need for music to be accessible, especially if it's going to be an effective instrument of change; and without a doubt, they believe that music should be that. As a trio, they manage to sound like a much larger ensemble, and they manage to reflect the work and dedication of an infinitely larger mass of people who've helped shape their political analysis.