Monitor
In February 1978,[14] the collective began to work with musical instruments as a means to "translate the World Imitation collage aesthetic into sound".[10] World Imitation's artistic work brought them into contact with sound engineer and producer Ed Barger (who also recorded early works by Devo) after a year-long mail-art exchange, meeting in person at WImP's Products exhibition.[10]
Of the WImP collective's members, only Michael Uhlenkott and Steve Thomsen had significant musical experience. Steve Thomsen was accomplished in playing the organ and ragtime piano. Michael Uhlenkott played the guitar, sang, and wrote songs for his folk-rock band Cañon[7] with the collective's high school friend Allison Anders, who later became a noted filmmaker.
Performing in the original Hollywood punk-rock scene, Monitor produced music that blended "archaic influences with modern technology".[15] While the sounds of the larger Los Angeles punk scene were marked by a loud, convulsive onslaught with harsh vocals, Monitor's sound, notably understated and rhythmically complex, was described as "alternately quiet and mysteriously disquieting".[16] Monitor's music drew from classical structures, medieval through baroque; film soundtracks;[16] and early electronic music, punctuated by inspiration from "primitive" sounds of traditional global folk music and psychedelic elements from the music of the late '60s.[17]
Though they played infrequently and released only three records, the group was considered both remarkable and influential, producing work that was "unusual for its sophistication, and used African and Eastern European rhythms and minor-key melodies to create a sound unlike anyone else."
By contrast, their eponymous full album, Monitor, includes the track "Hair"—performed by the Meat Puppets, which follows punk's more traditional sound.
Although Monitor disliked the terms "art band" or "art rock", they were often referred to as such due to their unique sound, "imaginative use of instruments",and theatrical onstage presence.
Monitor released three records on their own World Imitation Productions label: the 1979 7-inch single ("Beak" / "Pet Wedding"); the 1981 full-length, self-titled album; and earlier the same year, the 7-inch single by The Tikis.
Their last live appearance was on the April 10, 1982, show of Peter Ivers' New Wave Theater.