Techno Tuesday: Archaic Podcast 626 - Monotone

Monotone is an electronic act operating in NE Italy. Working at the intersection of techno, UK Garage, Breaks, jungle and IDM, Monotone crafts music that is both structurally rigorous and emotionally charged — rhythmically precise yet texturally volatile.
The debut EP, Call Your Friends (Mindwaves-Music, G.DUBS01), marked a decisive entrance. Widely supported by influential figures including dBridge, Grant Marshall, Amon Tobin, Laurent Garnier, Modeselektor, Kode9, Venetian Snares, and Objekt, the record resonated across both underground and forward-leaning electronic communities. Its release opened the doors to prominent European stages and platforms with radio play and DJ support extending across clubs and festivals internationally.

Critics responded with equal intensity. Parkett described the EP as “forward-thinking yet grounded… demanding attention not only for its technical prowess but for its visceral, almost primal impact.” AFX Radio London highlighted its navigation between traditional rhythmic frameworks and new sound design — nodding to the legacy of Photek while aligning with contemporary innovators such as ASC and Sam Binga. Igloo Magazine called it “a sonic locomotive gathering speed through dense nocturnal fog.”

Monotone’s forthcoming releases further refine their language: tension-driven percussion, cavernous spatial design, and a deliberate oscillation between control and rupture. The project’s aesthetic is austere but kinetic — rooted in rhythmic autonomy, sculpted distortion, and an undercurrent of cinematic unease.
Live, Monotone translates this intensity into immersive, club-oriented performances. Whether appearing as a full collaboration or a singular embodiment, the live set maintains the project’s core principle: disciplined structures pushed toward emotional extremity.

Upcoming appearances are further establishing Monotone’s presence within Europe’s most forward-thinking electronic circuits.
Monotone stands at a point where tradition fractures into experimentation — precise yet volatile, grounded yet unrestrained — forging a sound that is both deeply referential and unmistakably their own.

Tracklist