The fourth 7″ within the 24 Songs project emerged blinking on 15 April 2022.
It was inevitable that a slower number would, at some point, emerge as a single in this series, and it duly arrived with Monochrome. It opens with a lovely couplet:-
And every day spent without you
Just becomes so monochrome
There’s no colour
Life’s just duller
mp3: The Wedding Present – Monochrome (7″ version)
And, I’m sorry to say, is about all the positive things I will say about it. David Gedge has, over the decades, written some wonderful ballads, but Monochrome isn’t one of them. The tune plods along almost as self-pityingly as the rest of the lyric, although Jon Stewart (I assume) does try to breathe a bit of life into it towards the end with a guitar solo in which the effect pedals make a mighty contribution.
But I’m pleased to say that the release is saved by a rather excellent b-side………one which had been premiered during the virtual ‘At The Edge of The Sea’ festival held on 15 August 2020, and later included on the Locked Down and Stripped Back album released the following February:-
Locked Down and Stripped Back was an interesting and timely release. The idea of re-recording songs from the back catalogue in the only way that was possible during the COVID restrictions was a good one. The experience of getting to hear the re-recordings via YouTube recordings was enjoyable enough, but picking them up in a physical form was far more satisfying, with the bonus being that the two new songs – We Should Be Together and You’re Just a Habit… – felt like a real return to form. It also looked from the video clips, and indeed hearing the music, that The Wedding Present were very much a band again and not just some musicians brought in to back up David Gedge. The fact that the new songs gave writing credits to all four musicians seemed to be quite telling.
mp3: The Wedding Present – You’re Just A Habit That I’m Trying To Break
The studio version isn’t too far removed from the locked down take on things, albeit it’s about thirty seconds longer, thanks to a keyboard outro.
JC
JC
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
I don’t mind Monochrome. Sure, it’s not exactly top-notch Weddoes, but it’s far from the worst thing they’ve ever put out. I’ve never been too enamoured by You’re Just A Habit, though.
Although I generally favour a faster pace, I also prefer Monochrome of these two tracks. You’re right, JC, the guitar at the end is notable – and for me provides a required dollop of wallop.
Strangeways