Mono

Influenced by jazz, '60s pop and classic film-soundtracks, the trip-hop duo Mono combined vocalist Siobhan de Mare and producer Martin Virgo, a one-time member of Nellee Hooper's production team which worked on Massive Attack's "Unfinished Sympathy" as well as Bjork's Debut. After Virgo teamed up with de Mare in 1996, they recorded the Life in Mono EP and signed to Mercury by the end of the year. After their debut album Formica Blues was released, Mono gained a popularity through an appearance on the soundtrack to the Great Expectations. Virgo's sound in Mono is constently seeping doses of dub, hip-hop, acid jazz, lounge and pure pop through every track. And with de Mare's seductive, yet quiet voice reminds listeners of Billie Holiday or Dusty Springfield with attitude. Unforunately they didn't stay together long. In 1998, Mono broke up and Siobhan found another gig working with David Gruthie (ex-Cocteau Twins) on a project called Violet Indiana.