Monarchy is Andrew Armstrong and Ra Black. Both originally from Australia, the synth-pop duo met in London, and began making music together in 2009. Monarchy released its debut album in 2011 with the singles 'Love Get Out of My Way', 'Maybe I'm Crazy', and 'You Don't Want to Dance With Me' and remixes from the likes of Benny Benassi, Tim Goldsworthy, Azari and III and Bag Raiders...

Abnocto sees Monarchy grow musically to deliver an album that has hardly any low point. This truly is an album that feels like it's been crafted and perfected over and over again until it was just right to unleash on the world.

It's hard to pick out individual tracks, as this truly is an album that works best in its entirety... but if you're twisting my arm... The stripped back, raw electronic sound on 'Almost Human' is hypnotic; The tune at the core of 'Disintegration' is hard not to resist; and (my personal favourite) the soulful, haunting 'Black Widow' is compulsive listening.

This is a wonderfully upbeat, electronic indie album that, if there is anybody left in the UK with taste, become an instant hit.

10

Nick Smithson