Mona Mur
Mona Mur
Mona Mur, vocalist of her own class, songwriter, music producer, '80s survivor. Together with Alexander Hacke, FM Einheit, Mark Chung (all of Einstürzende Neubauten) and organ virtuoso Nikko Weidemann (Moka Efti Orchestra) responsible for underground hits such as 'Snake,' '120 Tage' or 'Eintagsfliegen.' She first graced the music scene with the 12" 'Jeszcze Polska' (Supermax 1982) which immediately claimed London's New Musical Express' "Single of the Week" slot: "Her weapons are a passionately bloody voice and a gift for multiligual puns she applies to acerbic commentaries." At the time Mur lived a wild life in Hamburg, Paris and Berlin which shaped her unique and uncompromising musical persona. A violent sound of darkest shades and concerts in manic intensity and morbid slowbeat-chic were foundation stones for her cult image until today. Mona Mur is also a composer and sound designer, her music and soundcapes are to be found in movies like 'Gegen Die Wand' and video games such as 'Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days.' In summer 1987 Mona Mur met legendary Stranglers musicians JJ Burnel and Dave Greenfield on their compound in beautiful and enchanted East-Anglia to create her first full album 'Mona Mur.' The synth pop pearl with Dave Greenfield's signature and unique keyboard arpeggios and Burnel's brutal and elegant bass lines strongly influencing the production sound was released 1988 by RCA and was celebrated by filmmakers Monika Treut and Elfi Mikesch in their movie 'Die Jungfrauenmaschine' - which contains a MM live performance of the song 'Ritz.' The official 'Ritz' video was shot by Eduard Oleschak in Vienna on Heldenplatz and Hofburg and in Palais Saurau in the city of Graz, Austria. The album also features a special re-recording of 'Surabaya Johnny' using tracks by FM Einheit, Alex Hacke, Nikko Weidemann, Thomas Stern and Siewert Johannsen (the second Mona Mur Band line up) with additional drum tracks by Dave Larcombe ('The Bible'). The 2021 reissue is remastered by En Esch (KMFDM, Pigface), comes in a new running order with a special version of 'Jealous' and a bonus track, 'Venus 2020,' featured as credits's song of the Monika Treut movie 'Genderation' (2021). CD includes also bonus tracks from the 'Jeszcze Polska' EP from 1982.