Monsoon was an early to mid 1980s UK progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

 trio

Trio (music)

Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...

 that consisted of singer Sheila Chandra

Sheila Chandra

Sheila Chandra is an English pop singer of Indian descent.-Indian-Western pop fusion period:Sheila Chandra first came to public attention as an actress, playing Sudhamani Patel in the BBC school drama Grange Hill from 1979 to 1981.As a teenager she formed the band Monsoon with Steve Coe , and...

, record producer

Record producer

A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...

 Steve Coe, and bass guitarist Martin Smith. They are best remembered for their number 12 hit single

Hit single

A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...

 in the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

 in 1982, "Ever So Lonely".

Midge Ure, (Ultravox and Band Aid), directed the video for Monsoon' second single "Shakti" which went Top 40.

Monsoon's sound took Asian communities around the world by surprise - it was so contemporary and so unlike the “Disco in Hindi” albums, early Bhangra or James Bond influenced Hindi film blockbusters that were around. For Asian and Western audiences alike Monsoon's sound was a “evolutionary leap”.

Monsoon's third single, "Tomorrow Never Knows" (a cover of the Beatles ), featured guest appearances from Bill Nelson

Bill Nelson (musician)

Bill Nelson is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter and experimental musician...

 (Be-Bop Deluxe), Preston Heyman

Preston Heyman

Preston Heyman is a British session drummer. His credits include playing with the Tom Robinson Band on the album TRB Two. He is the co-founder of London based production company Flipside Productions and plays live with Zohar and Avivit on the London circuit....

 (Kate Bush

Kate Bush

Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...

), Dave Balfe (The Teardrop Explodes

The Teardrop Explodes

The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...

) and Merrick

Chris Hughes (record producer)

Chris Hughes is a music producer and a former drummer for Adam and the Ants....

 (Adam and the Ants

Adam and the Ants

Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...

).

Due to differences with their label, Phonogram

Phonogram

Phonogram may refer to:* Phonogram , a comic book by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie* Phonogram , a grapheme which represents a phoneme or a combination of phonemes...

, Monsoon dissolved in 1982. Sheila Chandra started a solo career, Steve Coe continued writing and producing her albums, as well as Martin Smith, but often under the name Ganges Orchestra.

Phonogram

Phonogram

Phonogram may refer to:* Phonogram , a comic book by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie* Phonogram , a grapheme which represents a phoneme or a combination of phonemes...

 "posthumously" released Third Eye

Third Eye (Monsoon album)

-Track listing:#"Wings of the Dawn " – 3:56#"Tomorrow Never Knows" – 4:01#"Third Eye and Tikka T.V." – 2:53#"Eyes" – 3:41#"Shakti " – 4:04...

in 1983.

A compilation of Monsoon recordings including several previously unreleased tracks were released in 1995 on CD by Phonogram's partner label Mercury Records

Mercury Records

Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...

.

Singles

• "Ever So Lonely" (1982) - UK
  UK Singles Chart
  The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
  
  #12
• "Shakti (The Meaning of Within)" (1982) - UK #41
• "Tomorrow Never Knows" (1982)
• "Wings of the Dawn (Prem Kavita)" (1982)