FALCAO AND MONASHEE met in Vancouver in 2007, touring across CANADA in another band before moving to a cottage on GALIANO ISLAND, on the coast of BRITISH COLUMBIA, to begin writing songs together in the PACIFIC WILDERNESS. Since that time they've recorded 2 ALBUMS and 1 EP.

Starting in January 2008, from a hillside of arbutus trees, the duo recorded a five song EP, released on the internet, with a few CDRs given out when hitchhiking, and one track ("Heaven") appearing on a compilation by Nebraska-based Series Two Records. After leaving the island and visiting SAO PAULO, F and M returned to Canada to continue work on their first album in VANCOUVER's Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood. Finishing three more songs, ("Teleportation", "Plot", and "Parasocial"), as well as reworking the five from their 2008 EP (Starlight, All Terrain...), this eponymous debut was self-recorded on 8track zip disks using a single vocal mic in MARCH 2009, and self-released by JUNE.

Falcao and Monashee's debut charted on college radio across North America (CMJTop200, EarshotTop50), with reviews as well from Europe (receiving 7/10 from ONDAROCK), and #1 spot on Belgian ROOTSTIME Radio "Best of 2009" list.

Playing numerous shows since the start of '09, including MUSIC WASTE '09, and set to play Olio '10 festival in Vancouver, the pair have spent this past autumn experimenting and songwriting. The NEW 14 TRACK album, "FOOLS", was recorded live-in-studio (with zero overdubbing), by COLIN STEWART (Black Mountain, Destroyer), at the HIVE in DECEMBER 2009, and like their first album, the LOOPS and lyrics began on Galiano, but have subsequently been shaped by their experience in the city.

Continuing the same bass, keys, harp, banjo, violin, mandolin, and drums from their debut, and introducing a Freq Box ("Inner Journey", "Futurey Gamey"), Kootenay Mountain Dulcimer ("Investigative"), and looped accordion ("Kathmandu"); Falcao and Monashee additionally sample old sleigh bells ("Merry Go Round"), tibetan cymbals ("Casbah"), bell plates ("Fighting Challenge"), a gong ("Valentine"), and a few more instruments (mostly recorded at a farm around Halloween 2009 in the Mountains of British Columbia), plus a couple of clips taken from Youtube (Tibetan Longhorns from the Himalayas, and a speech by Queen Elizabeth II of England) and some city birds ("Hollywood Cigarettes..."). Vintage plate reverb on the dual vocals lends to the dark, swirling atmosphere of the songs. Now avilable for FREE download, "FOOLS" is set to be self-released on Vinyl in 2010.

MORE ABOUT F AND M:

-FALCAO immigrated to Canada from BRAZIL to continue to pursue music after playing drums in various Sao Paulo bands (The Maybees(now Ludov), Banze, Numismata). Some of his major influences include IRON MAIDEN, BLONDE REDHEAD, LEONARD COHEN, and CHICO BUARQUE. Little known fact: has tried his hand at standup...

- MONASHEE grew up in BC, living on the coast, and the mountains for many years. Daughter of musicians, her love of song has spanned from early influences of '80's POP along with traditonal FOLK BALLADS, bands like The MOODY BLUES, singers JOAN BAEZ, DOLLY PARTON, and BILLIE HOLIDAY. Her favourite band is BELLE AND SEBASTIAN. Little known fact: occasionally busks with violin...

Instrumentation
Monashee Sun:
keyboard, harp, mandolin, violin, mountain dulcimer, banjo, toy metallophone, vocals, effects

Rodrigo Falcao:
bass, guitar, organ loops, drums, vocals, effects