It seems a little weird to describe a sound coming from a Mellotron as not sounding like a Mellotron.. If one has only heard 2 or 3 sounds that are remembered as Mellotronic and identified with or even AS 'the instrument' then surely every other existing sound, 'classic' or newly-recorded, will be 'new', or at least unfamiliar.
I had just 1 tape frame for 10 years, replacing the tapes with the same 3 sounds when I wore them out. The first time I loaded in a different frame featuring very different sounds my relationship with the machine changed.. Having tried more sounds since I now appreciate the machine more as something that is capable of being many sorts of beautiful, far more than simply a 3-sound prog-rock sonic essential.
Each of my frames is it's own magical world, an instrument with a separate personality requiring a different approach and involving a different musical mindset. Some of these sounds are new, some are 'first decade' recordings. Not all are ideal for the sort of music that I used to think the Mellotron was FOR, but each frame has made me do new things.
The most recent is a blend of various vintages- Bass Clarinet/Cor Anglais & Oboe/12-string acoustic guitar. Add a swell pedal and some handy instantly-controllable reverb device and there's a fabulous range of colours available with the mix control sweeping through the sounds.. from Harmonium to Harpsichord. With a Rather Large Church Organ in there too (reverb is a big part of this, naturally..) and if you really want to you can play 'Wish You Were Here'.. Now that's a fairly 'un-Mellotronic' set but it's as magical as the more obvious selections.
It's important that the sound library is expanded and developed, the Mellotron hardware is going to be around for a while yet and is still 'current', if unusual.( Well, you can buy new ones, so it's 'current', and there are developments in the technology. End of story.) The most famous sounds will always be loved, maybe some of the 'best' haven't been recorded yet... and there is always room for improvement with the old favourites too. Especially that 'cello..
By the way, that new organ sounds great.. Can't wait to have a go. It's much better than the wheezing heap of shit that accompanied my friends' wedding yesterday..
Love and Scones,
MSW/151
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
From: fdoddy@aol.com
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2010 10:20:18 -0500
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] New Sounds In General
I love that noise!!!
fd
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Nov 7, 2010 5:07 am
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] New Sounds In General
On 07/11/2010 08:33, Bruce Daily wrote:
| Funny thing about a classic Hammond organ, it is also ELECTO-MECHANICAL. Maybe there is something to that. |
It also generates more white noise than a Mellotron. It's maybe the noisiest circuitry I've ever heard.
| New recordings are great. It sounds like you had fun with the Wilden Church Organ set, Mike. Someone else will, too. |
I hope so.
Mike