Monkey 3: Switzerland’s Cosmic Stoner Rocket Ship
Some bands just click for me instantly. You’ve got that weird Swiss outfit from Lausanne who’ve been blasting through psychedelic desert rock since 2001, and honestly, they deserve way more attention than they get. Monkey3 (sometimes written Monkey 3) aren’t your typical four-piece—they’re building vast instrumental soundscapes that feel like scoring a film nobody’s made yet. Two decades in, they’re still firing on all cylinders, releasing proper albums like 2024’s Welcome To The Machine.
This lot don’t bother with vocals most of the time. Why fuck around with singing when you can just let the riffs do the talking?
Who’s Actually In It
The core lineup’s held together through the bullshit for most of their existence:
Boris plays the guitar
Walter on drums
dB on all sorts of things with keys
Jalil is the bass master at the moment
Where They Come From Sonically
They’ll namecheck constantly these: Kyuss, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd—which is basically holy trinity status for stoner psych. But they’ve also thrown 35007, Jane’s Addiction, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC into the mix.
What It Reminds You Of
If you’re trying to pitch Monkey3 to a mate who hasn’t heard them, say this: Samsara Blues Experiment, Karma to Burn and early Kyuss. Long tracks that breathe. Riffs that loop and evolve rather than punch you in the face.
Five Tracks You Need To Know
Alright, here’s where it counts. These are the essential cuts:
1. Watching You (feat. John Garcia)
▶️ Watch “Watching You” on YouTube
2. Kashmir (feat. Tony Jelencovich)
3. Once Upon A Time In The West
4. Rackman
5. One Of These Days
My Verdict: If you’ve ever liked anything heavy, psych-adjacent, or just appreciate a band that plays longform instrumental jams without apology, Monkey3 are worth the investment. They’re not chasing trends, they’re not selling out, and they’re still putting out great records.
Give ’em a listen. Make it loud!
e.
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