Monde UFO

Monde UFO is an Los Angeles-based experimental duo consisting of Ray Monde and Kris Chau. The project originated as a solo endeavor by Monde, who utilized a 7th Street warehouse as a creative laboratory.

His unconventional use of a Yamaha church organ as a primary bass and melodic lead, recorded onto a four-track cassette, established a signature lo-fi, tape-saturated sound. The addition of Chau brought influences from ambient, new age, and sound bath meditations, further softening the edges of Monde's psychedelic sketches. Their sound identity is defined by a 'slow burner' approach, blending the rhythmic sensibilities of bossa nova with the improvisational spirit of spiritual jazz and the textural grit of bedroom pop. Culturally, they occupy a niche within the modern LA psych-jazz scene, bridging the gap between the avant-garde jazz of Nels Cline and the pastoral psychedelia of Rose City Band. Critical consensus highlights their ability to evoke a specific sense of 'urban isolation' while maintaining a hopeful, meditative core. Their work is frequently cited for its unique thematic focus on UFO lore and cosmic spirituality, rendered through a distinctly analog, human lens.