When MONO first conceived of a live concert backed by an orchestra, it seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime dream of an event that would require a unique set of circumstances, an enormous crew of like-minded and generous contributors, and a titanic amount of luck. At exactly a decade into their career, it was by far their most ambitious undertaking. They flew from their home country of Japan – where, at the time, they were ironically less acclaimed and accomplished than in the United States and Europe – to New York City, where they assembled an orchestra, secured a historic venue near Lincoln Center, and bet on themselves to pull off a truly unforgettable evening. Not only was the concert a rousing success, but it spawned what has become a defining part of MONO’s identity: the orchestral live performance. Since that magical night in NYC in 2009, MONO have performed more than three dozen live concerts with a diverse array of orchestras, spanning nearly as many countries throughout the world. Their last such concert in Japan, however, was more than 15 years ago. A quarter-century into their storied career, MONO has finally come home.
Forever Home: Live in Japan with Orchestra PITREZA celebrates MONO’s 25th Anniversary ‘OATH’ Orchestral World Tour, which stretched to 20 concerts in Europe, Asia, and the United States of America in the final months of 2024. Recorded in front of a sold-out crowd at Spotify O-EAST in Tokyo, Forever Home features a 12-piece orchestra – led by orchestra director and frequent collaborator, Chad McCullough – supporting MONO as they perform their latest album, OATH, in its entirety. The 100-minute concert concludes with a pair of the band’s most iconic songs – “Ashes in the Snow” and “Everlasting Light” – that pay homage to that first-ever orchestral live performance in NYC 15 years ago. Recorded and mixed by MONO’s longtime touring sound engineer, Matt Cook, Forever Home captures the venerable group in their natural environment, and at their most transcendent. With the symphonic accompaniment of Japan’s Orchestra PITREZA, MONO makes a room in Tokyo feel like a limitless sea – mercurial, contemplative, and overwhelming.
The physical formats of Forever Home are appropriately expansive and suitably special. Designed by longstanding art director and collaborator, Jeremy deVine, the 2xCD is packaged in a quadruple gatefold and includes a feature-length concert film on high-definition Blu-ray, directed by Yusaku Mitsuwaka. It is a stunning work of multi-camera cinematography that perfectly encapsulates the live MONO experience. The triple-gatefold 3xLP is available on audiophile black vinyl, or limited-edition colored vinyl variants. Both CD and LP formats each include a sprawling 28-page full-color archival photo book that documents the complete concert. This is MONO. This is Forever Home.
A1. Oath
A2. Run On
A3. Reflection
A4. Hear The Wind Sing
A5. Hourglass
A6. Moonlight Drawing
A7. Holy Winter
B1. We All Shine On
B2. Time Goes By
B3. Ashes In The Snow
B4. Everlasting Light
