Introducing Malcolm Del Monte

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 2023-10-27

Label: Bubblewrap Records

Recorded in a Snowbird Studios pop-up in Lourinha, Portugal, Introducing Malcolm Del Monte continues the band’s fascination with high concepts and musical, album-length storytelling. Sonically and seamlessly ranging from alt-folk to industrial synth to melodic pop-rock, a lot of ground is covered. Injected with the musicality of Quiet Marauder themselves, as well as Canadian kindred spirits, The Burning Hell, instrumentation includes flute, piano, chunky bass, acoustic and electric guitar, programmed beats, synthscapes, bamboo clarinet, bongos, and a heap load of vocals. Indeed, alongside the main lead voices of Simon M. Read, Kadesha Drija and Malcolm Del Monte (Rowan Liggett) there are guest performances from My Name Is Ian and The Burning Hell’s Mathias Kom.

For me, the lack of opportunities for social contact and externalisation meant a lot of things that would normally be breathed out into the world instead stewed internally inside of me. I listened carefully to my own confused inner monologues. There were very few other things to focus on each day.

Over time, those monologues gave birth to Malcolm, my new imaginary friend and a counterpoint to the drab, depressing reality engulfing us…a nostalgic exemplar of mischief, and better, more innocent times.

Naturally, when realising your imagination is creating new friends for you, the knee-jerk response is to hold yourself to account, chastise and rebel against your brain. As it turns out, for me at least, that was not the best approach. Without Malcolm and his intuitive awareness of my weaknesses, foibles and flaws, without those vital internal thoughts that reconcile us to reality, there was a big, big hole. One that could be filled with even more terrible things than were there already; a lingering pale.

So, I guess the message of this album is don’t be too hard on yourself. And definitely not in a world that is as bewildering as the one we have been living in for the last however long.

Embrace your inner Malcolm, he might not be as bad as you think.