Mono: Formica Blues

When Portishead released its self-titled sophomore album last year, it seemed like little more than a retread of the band's debut, without as many hooks. But that album is a triumph of innovation when held up next to the onslaught of Portishead-esque trip-hop bands like the London-based duo Mono and, to a lesser extent, Morcheeba and Hooverphonic. At least the latter two bands have cooked up some creepy, stylish music on their own. On songs like "Life In Mono" and "Silicone," Mono transparently apes Portishead, albeit without all that un-commercial drama and darkness. Drawing its samples from obvious John Barry and Burt Bacharach material—"Silicone" actually takes its central sample from the same Bacharach-penned source as Hooverphonic's superior 1997 single "2wicky"—Formica Blues is safe and static, even sunny in spots, and full of empty style in places where its influences took a few risks. (For proof, try "High Life," a slab of disco-pop cheese straight out of 1978.) Nothing on Formica Blues is terrible, of course: Mono would never go to such extremes. But it's pale, derivative, disposable stuff.