Mellotronists

After a two week dry spell, some decent 'tron pops up on the debut 
Saturday Looks Good To Me (yep, that's the name of the band) "All 
Your Summer Songs" CD (Polyvinyl PRC-060). Overall, the disc is an 
incredible decelerated spacious-sounding Beach Boys-meets-Byrds wig 
out with dense tripno treatments. Sounds like it's right out of the 
mid 1960's, but with a strange up to date and dark twist to it. The 
song "Ambulance" has up front strings pitched down and follows up 
with flutes that are also forward in the mix. A refreshingly oblique 
CD recorded over a two-year period all over southern Michigan mostly, 
and features most notably links to His Name Is Alive...Mellotron 
player is Dave Shettler.

Another great CD that really knocked me flat was the new Kaada on 
Ipecac, titled "Thanks For Giving Me Your Time". Lots of late 50's 
and 60's doo-wop, old school R&B and funk all cut up breakbeat style 
and just clever as all getout...think Portishead meets Freddy Fresh & 
maybe you'll get some idea of this unclassifyable, uncomparable debut 
from this Norwegian--it came out a couple years ago, but just out in 
the States. No Mellotron...but what a creative groundbreaking project 
to loop all this stuff together and give it true headphones and club 
appeal without going the "stars on 45" treatment.

Currently trying to find out if 'tron strings are on one track of the 
new Systematic CD. Very distant--barely discernable icey strings on 
one track of this heavyweight metal offering.

Jayhawks "Rainy Day Music" (American Records USA -080-02) Typical 
Jayhawks sound, but a bit more ballading like many of the softer 
early Neil Young numbers. Nice "Chamberlain" (sic) strings in 
particular on track #7 "Don't Let The World Get You Down" as played 
by Ethan Johns...who also plays Chamberlin strings on #13 "Will I See 
You In Heaven". Another player, Richard Causon, on "Tampa To Tulsa" 
plays light Chamberlin strings. Harmonium and B-3 pops up nicely on a 
couple tracks, too...

Two this time--after somewhat of a dry spell of new releases...

1. Pete Yorn "Day I Forgot" (Columbia CK 86922) (U.S.A.) The last 
song, "So Much Work" has light background M-400 strings--way in the 
background--permormed by R. Walt Vincent.

2. Lynch/Pilson "Wicked Undergound" (Spitfire SPT-15100-2)(U.S.A.). 
The fifth song, "Ever Higher" has strong strings, cello during the 
first half of the song--a ballad that builds to a power riff 
crescendo. Jeff Pilson listed as playing *keyboards*. A melodic/vocal 
driven arena rock outfit for the most part with kind of an Aldo Nova 
sound.

-----Original Message-----

From: mellotrongirl [mailto:mellotrongirl@...]
Sent: 14 April 2003 19:04
To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mellotronists] Mellotron/Chamberlin Discoveries For The Week:


2. Lynch/Pilson "Wicked Undergound" (Spitfire SPT-15100-2)(U.S.A.).
The fifth song, "Ever Higher" has strong strings, cello during the
first half of the song--a ballad that builds to a power riff
crescendo. Jeff Pilson listed as playing *keyboards*. A melodic/vocal
driven arena rock outfit for the most part with kind of an Aldo Nova
sound.


These are (gulp) ex-Dokken guys, or at least George Lynch is. He also used
'Tron on 'Sacred Groove', from a decade ago, so I s'pose there may be some
more in his subsequent work.

Andy T.
M400 #1145

'The Ultimate Mellotron Recordings List (Possibly)'

http://freespace.virgin.net/andy.thompson/


p.s. NP - Arena - 'The Visitor', for research purposes only.  :-)  It sucks.
:-(

Lots of new music came in the mail today--but for starters, there's 
Teitur's debut (an acoustic introspective guitarist from the Faeroes) 
who has a CD out in the U.S. on Universal/Cherry B0000378-02 
titled "Poetry And Aeroplanes". Patrick Warren again surfaces--
playing Chamberlin, *octagon*, celeste, porto organ, Farfisa, and 
even marxophone (ever see one of those? neato little instrument--one 
went for $30 on eBay last January) on seven of the 11 tracks, along 
with keyboards from producer Rupert Hine. Very soft, very lyrical, 
and Patrick's presence is a bit in the back, except for the first 
track with some strong Chamberlin strings and flute.

np: Ralph Myerz/Jack Herren Band