Monitor

Monitor represents a vital node in the Los Angeles Free Music Society (LAFMS) orbit, specifically bridging the gap between avant-garde noise and the emerging post-punk/no-wave movements of the late 70s and early 80s. Formed by Steve Thomsen alongside members of the World Imitation art collective, the project prioritized visual and conceptual aesthetics as much as sonic output.

Their sound identity is defined by a 'dry' production style, avoiding the lush reverb of their contemporaries in favor of a claustrophobic, immediate presence. Musically, they utilized angular guitar work, primitive electronics, and a deadpan vocal delivery that aligned them with New York No Wave acts like DNA or Mars, yet they maintained a distinct West Coast weirdness. Critically, Monitor is regarded as a cult essential, influencing the later development of art-punk and experimental indie. Their limited discography, primarily centered on their 1981 LP, remains a cornerstone for collectors of outsider music and those interested in the intersection of performance art and underground rock.