The Monks Kitchen is a band from London, England formed in 2001.
The band comprises of three childhood friends and has released two albums to date. Well known for a hermit like existence and rare live appearances, the band was a surprise signing to Sony’s 1965 Records in 2006.
The band, previously managed by ex-Alfie lead singer Lee Gorton, was signed, after just one gig, by the man who discovered The Libertines, and The Strokes and who once famously ‘shook hands’ with Johnny Cash, James Endeacott.
The Monk’s debut album ‘The Wind May Howl’ (Sony/1965 Records) was recorded at The Dairy in Brixton, London over six days in July 2006 with Paul Weller/Oasis producer Stan Kybert and included single ‘Bringing Hurricanes’. A UK tour, festival slots including Glastonbury and support to Badly Drawn Boy, John Power (The La’s/Cast) and a live session on BBC6 Music followed. However, after less than 2 years, having failed to show for their slot at the NME Christmas party, and despite having signed a five album deal, the band abruptly parted company with Sony in December 2007.
Critics on The Wind May Howl:
“a band who’ve turned gestation into an art form… Contenders for album of the year 2014? Very possibly” NME 8/10
“…Subtle harmonic textures, jazzy chord chimes and guitars drenched in the stylings of classic British folk and West Coast psych” Uncut
“a seductive debut” Music Week
During this period, instrumental track ‘Snake Charmer’ was used by FilmFour in an advert for Robert De Niro season and the unreleased track ‘Unanchored’ was used by The New York City Ballet in the documentary ‘NYC Ballet in London’.
A fruitful 6 year hiatus followed, during which time the band wrote and recorded the majority of the songs which would form their self-produced 2nd album ‘Music From The Monks Kitchen’ released on Wonderfulsound Records in November 2013. A cover of the Sam Cooke soul standard ‘Shake’ was released as a limited edition 7” single in November 2013 but does not appear on the album.
Critics on Shake and Music From The Monks Kitchen:
“Very, very beautiful… pure magic” Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6 Music
“This is gorgeous, beautiful” Gary Crowley, BBC London
“Magnificent… an intimate and quietly lovely full length debut, cautious, subtle and richly melodic” Time Out ****
“Excellent, astute, rapturous… Don’t Lie Awake really does sound like a lost Bob Dylan song from 1964” Uncut 8/10 (Album of the Week)
“Souped up folk… returns to the source in charming and unaffected style” Mojo ****
Unsurprisingly, and true to character, the Monk’s promptly disappeared having undertaken just two live performances in London and Manchester and a single live radio session (AllFM) to promote the release.
In the intervening years, Luca Nieri, always the most prolific of the Monks, has released three albums on Wonderfulsound Records. He has also written, produced and performed for numerous other acts including John Stammers, RW Hedges, Colorama, Fabienne Delsol, Emma Tricca, Chester P (Taskforce) and Saint Etienne’s Sarah Cracknell.
Rumours come and go around the release of a lost Monks record of Bob Dylan covers and, in 2019, the existence of a potential 3rd album of original songs circulated online.
For now, we wait to hear.