Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: The Mellotron Group

 

I found this track on an old cassette at a local charity shop. Paris' 68 were a leading experimental group based in Ashburton, New Zealand who burst onto the local music scene in the early 1970's. They were founded by Eric Foucalt who played keyboards, he was joined by his girlfriend Simone Derrida on vocals, panpipes and recorder, with Johnny Sartre on drums.

For years all recordings of this seminal band were thought to have been lost. I believe this piece which only features Eric and Simone was a demo for one of the tracks of their eagerly awaited debut  album "Deconstruction" which has an almost mythical reputation amongst the band's legions of fans.

Eric was without doubt the leading New Zealand mellotron player. It is rumoured that his Mark II was originally owned by Barclay James Harvest, having been severely damaged after it was pushed down a flight of stairs, it was brought to New Zealand in pieces by a party of backpackers. It was then lovingly reassembled with the help of  fence posts and number eight  wire.

The group were touring New Zealand to widespread critical acclaim and ectastic audiences, when tragedy struck. Whilst practicing for a sell out gig in Eketahuna, Eric had the inspiration to create the "prepared mellotron" by filling the Mark II with a selection of nuts, bolts and ball bearings. Whilst changing stations the machine exploded killing Eric and Johnny instantly and leaving Simone with critical injuries. She did eventually recover physically, but suffered a series of nervous breakdowns and later joined the "Children of the Spotted Kiwi"  cult.

I can't give a better introduction to this track than a quote from what would have been the sleeve notes to "Deconstruction" :

"The music's sense points to the signicance of it's difference, it's determinate transcendence in movement to the phenomenon of endless regress."

That says it all,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AEW4x8pGZ4

Enjoy

Mark