Razorblade Monalisa

Bio:

BIO:

5/10/2010

RM have mysteriously reformed. The four headed beast is once again emitting foul noises from it's lair on a semi regular basis. Beware that there might be a public sighting of the beast soon - if such a nightmare occurs please gather as many witnesses as possible to view the unspeakable horror.



Razorblade Monalisa is a Sacramento based Post-Punk 4-piece that at once recalls the era of 80’s artists such as U2, Joy Division, the Cure and Chameleons, but also provides an entirely original soundscape, pushing the genre into a fresh and exciting new direction.

Razorblade Monalisa - whose name refers to the modern tendency to change or censor the art of the past to suit consumer’s current underdeveloped tastes - was formed in 2004 by lyricist Bino Prassa and instrumentalist Jules Alcouffe (formerly of Blue Monroe, DJ at clubs Noir and Trauma). Dire Deparra (bass, from Uberkunst and various NY-area indie bands of years past) joined in 2006.

Hook laden guitar and bass lines, narrative lyrics, and propulsive drumming are all vying for attention over a backdrop of shifting tempo and key changes, usual arrangements, and a wide palate of mood. Bino’s Sci-Fi laced lyrics echo Gary Numan's world of paranoid, lonely machines and alienated humanity.

A Razorblade Monalisa show is almost more of a cinematic experience than musical one. Each song is a set piece; from a hard-rocking wall-of-sound onslaught one moment and then a dreamy but desperate ballad the next.

ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT:

Available at OurStage.com

Razorblade Monalisa are featured in Mick Mercer's new book "Music To Die For". We recommend buying directly from Cherry Red:

CLICK TO ORDER Music To Die For direct from Cherry Red



DISCOGRAPHY:



Razorblade Monalisa - Alien Nation E.P. (2008)
Available for purchase at shows, available for purchase as MP3 download above.

Features the songs "Alien Nation", "Net Work", and "Typical".



Razorblade Monalisa - Souvenir (2007)
Available for purchase at shows, available for purchase as MP3 download above.

Includes the Eyes E.P., the Four Short Stories (for girls and boys) E.P. and a few live and rare recordings only available on this release. Features the songs "Eyes (remix)", "Disconnected", "Fall", "Saint (demo)", "Neverland", Wolves", Picture Perfect", "Ahab", "Dies Irae (instr)", "Nowhere Now Here (live)", "Eyes (live)", "Alien Nation (live)", "Saint (live)".



Razorblade Monalisa - Bleed (2003)
Available for purchase as MP3 download above.

Constructed between 2000 and 2003, Bleed was conceived and written as a "concept album". Drifting somewhere between Camus' "The Rebel", Orwell's "1984", the Velvet Underground, and 1960's TV series "the Prisoner". Features the songs "White Heat", "Dead in the Springtime", "Got A Girl", "New Skin", "Pain Reliever", "Atom Bomb", "Abortion Is Mercy", "Bleed", "Thirteen".
.. ..

Member Since:

November 06, 2004

Members:

Bino: Vocals, Guitar



Jules: Vocals, Guitar, 6-String Bass, Keyboards



Dire: 4-String and 6-String Bass



Ryan: Drums, Vocals



Jo: Merchandise, promotion, live assist.

Former members:
Josh: Guitar (2005-2008)
Kevin: Drums (2006-2008)

Influences:

In no particular order:

David Bowie, Camus' "The Rebel", Bauhaus, Orwell's "1984", The Prisoner, Joy Division, Kubrick, Velvet Underground, Blade Runner, Brian Eno, William Gibson, Jesus & Mary Chain, Sex Pistols, Gary Numan, the Cure.

Sounds Like:

"Typical" - Opening song from our Speakeasy Lounge (Sacramento, CA) show on 11/20/07



"Network" - From our Speakeasy Lounge (Sacramento, CA) show on 11/20/07



"Remote Self Control" - From our Sideshow Studios (Sacramento, CA) show on 4/14/07


MORE VIDEOS:

"Eyes" - From our On the Y (Sacramento, CA) show on 8/5/05.

"Disconnected" (acoustic version).. - From our Axis Gallery (Sacramento, CA) acoustic show on 11/11/2006.

A cover of Joy Division's "New Dawn Fades" by Jules' former group Blue Monroe (with Jules on vocals) from 1999.