Classic Monsters by The Mining Co.
Following on from the Gum Card album, Classic Monsters similarly explores Michael's childhood muses, in this case Classic Monsters is a concept album of ten songs inspired by Michael's love for misfits, losers, stoners, freaks and weirdos, particularly those that meet their gruesome end in the classic monster movies that Michael so adored.
The songs of Classic Monsters are arranged to evoke a Film Noir soundtrack to amplify the air of foreboding in the lyrics. When asked about the musicality and themes behind the songs of Classic Monsters, Michael explains, "I imagined the music of the album in black and white and I wanted to keep it sparse yet dramatic. Following the themes of the earlier tracks the album ends on positive notes with the celestial soundscape of Planetarium, which is centred around two lovers stoned in a planetarium, dreaming of the future".
This wide-eyed, future-nostalgia psychedelia underscores the creative talents of an ever-rising star of the underground with a truly unique vision but there is also a respectful nod to great artists such as Flaming Lips, Eels and Sharon Van Etten.
Tracklist
| 1. | Failure | 4:21 |
| 2. | Classic Monsters | 3:10 |
| 3. | Killer Sun | 2:37 |
| 4. | Time Wasted | 3:23 |
| 5. | Blood Suckers | 2:26 |
| 6. | Salem | 3:09 |
| 7. | Rabbit Blood | 3:45 |
| 8. | Broken | 3:44 |
| 9. | Manta Ray | 3:11 |
| 10. | Planetarium | 3:32 |
Credits
The songs for Classic Monsters were written by Michael Gallagher at home in London and the album was rehearsed and recorded at Paco Loco Studio in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain in 2023 during two two-day sessions with Michael along with his friends from the Spanish psyche band Los Jaguares de la Bahía - Paco Loco on synths/ambient sounds, Pablo Errea on bass, Patri Espejo on piano and Esteban Perles (the rhythm hunter) on drums.
Classic Monsters was produced and mixed by Paco Loco, famed producer who is acclaimed for his work with luminaries such as Josh Rouse, Gary Louris (Jayhawks), The Sadies, Josephine Foster and Hinds.
