FEATURE ALBUM
monorail by 198Archie

The Feature Album this week on 2SER comes via local sonic experimentalist, 198Archie, who has just released his sophomore record monorail.
Feelings of nostalgia run rich through monorail with it’s explorations and memories, both overt and impressionistic. The passing of time and healing are a central theme with particular references to the past of Sydney. The title and cover art is a direct reference to the often maligned (and now long-torn down) Sydney monorail:
“Thinking about how slowly things change that it seems like they’re the same, until youvlook back and realise everything is completely different. After a while you forget most of the bad things and just good memories remain. This made me think about the Sydney Monorail. An outdated, inconvenient, expensive method of public transportation that people remember fondly cause it was fresh and looked cool. I tried to make it sound like an album that could’ve been made while the monorail was still active”
The whole LP has a blissfully deteriorated feel, a hazy sonic backdrop, intertwining guitar melodies, cellos, keys and effected drum loops that drive on gently within their closed circuit, much like the records’ namesake. While the album features a host of collaborators performing live on various tracks, much of the production consciously blurs the lines between live and sampled parts. A fantastic listen and beautifully put together album made on our doorstep and highly recommended.
monorail is out now independely on digital, streaming and limited edition CD.
198Archie will be launching the album live this coming Saturday (February 1st, 2025) at Lazy Thinking, Dulwich Hill along with Banjo Ulysses, Taki and Sinkhole Crim.