Best Use of Mellotron
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Topic: Best Use of Mellotron
Posted By: Howard the Duck
Subject: Best Use of Mellotron
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 07:59
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Even though I'm a fan of a lot of early bands, I've never thought the mellotron is that great an addition musically. I really like Genesis' use of the choir loops though for the keyboard chords on albums like Lamb. What's the best use of mellotron for you?
------------- MacGyver can do a super guitar solo with a broom and an elastic band. Can you do better? |
Replies:
Posted By: cemego
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 08:50
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I'd say.... then King Crimson-In The Court of... ------------- listen to streaming stuff! no commercials! http://wmom.servemp3.com:8000/listen.pls |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 09:16
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Introduzione no doubt said it best man.. that tron' section was as awesome as a post-coital cigarette ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 10:07
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A couple off the top of my head: King Crimson - Starless Anekdoten - Gravity Yes - And You And I David Bowie - Space Oddity Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 10:14
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the passage "Land's End" in "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 11:27
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As Cemego pointed out.. Genesis-Watcher of the Skies, King Crimson-In The Court of.., and Autumn by Strawbs.... there are a lot of one off ones like 200 Light Years by the Stones and ...of course Tuesday Afternoon by the Moodies...etc... a list that we all have seen...probably https://www.planetmellotron.com/toptens2.htm" rel="nofollow - https://www.planetmellotron.com/toptens2.htm
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 14:28
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Tangerine Dream – Phaedra (1974) and Rubycon (1975). There's a lot of synth and organ and some electric piano, but they still wouldn't be the same without the Tron. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 14:34
| Museo Rosenbach wants some love here!!! |
Posted By: Prog Sothoth
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 15:00
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King Crimson - Cirkus: Who says the mellotron can't be super creepy? The Moody Blues - The Voyage: Love those swandives early on...
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Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 15:29
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Genesis - Entangled ------------- A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now) |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 16:05
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I love this whole lp...but this track stands out for me...regarding mellotron. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 16:06
 word BROTHER... and here... still have a few high octaine Philly brews left...  next to TD's Strand of Nightmares... perhaps the single best example of 'tron use in prog. And since both are vastly different songs.. make them 1a and 1b.though I stick with my vote... not a 'tron dominated song by any stretch of the imagination..but answered the OP's question literally.. but when it came it after those savage keyboard and guitar solos... it was indeed. orgasmic in its release... and was I thought.the single best use of 'tron in all of prog that following what might have been the heaviest and wildest section of prog rock ever recorded.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Prog Sothoth wrote:Posted By: dougmcauliffe
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 16:07
/thread |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 18:37
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what I like about that mellotron part I mentioned is that it does not sound soft as it usually does but highly aggressive ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 21:03
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Genesis Watcher of the Skies and Entangled for sure have to agree with the Cirkus suggesting...just fantastic and a great song too. Of course I have to add Epitaph, ITCOCK, and ITWOP
John Hawken of Strawbs was a mellotron master - Autumn, Hero and Heroine, and The Life Auction are all through the roof, and Blue Weaver's work on "New World", "Benedictus", "Tears" and "Lay Down" are not too shabby either. Even later albums had some impressive tron like in "Words of Wisdom" and "Barcarole" I think Airborne is one of Camel's best mellotron works, as is "Never Let Go" Barclay James Harvest did some good work, courtesy of Woolly Wolstenholme, on "She Said", "Early Morning", "Poor Wages", "For No One", EVERY track on the album called "Live" and most tracks on "Live Tapes", "Ra", "Rock n Roll Star", "Believe in Me", "The Closed Shop" Moody Blues had so many I don't even know where to begin but certainly "Gypsy", "House of Four Doors", "Question", :"Tuesday Afternoon", "Tortoise and the Hare", "You and me", "Our Guessing game", "New Horizons", "My Song", "Beyond" and impressive Seventh Sojourn bonus cut "Island" are all super examples |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 22:08
| I think King Crimson and The Moody Blues made the best use of it, specially since it was a big part of their sound in the early days. Genesis and others also made a good of it, as everyone already mentioned. |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 22:30
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^ Quite right. Still love this symphony without an orchestra.... ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 22:43
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the Zombies - Care of Cell 44 the Moodie Blues - A Night in White Satin King Crimson - Sailors Tale -------------  
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Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 23:07
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As it was pretty ubiquitous in early prog, I probably gained a greater appreciation for it in more modern prog. It seemed to just fall out of favor and was replaced by lifeless midi-bank samples. It made a welcome comeback in the 90's and 2000's. Specifically I loved Nebelnest's Nova Express. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 23 2019 at 23:51
| Edgar Froese - Epsilon In Malaysian Pale is absolutely beautiful. I also love Genesis - Blood On The Rooftops and PFM - The World Became the World which obviously benefit greatly from its inclusion. Oh and Yes - Heart Of The Sunrise. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 01:57
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The first thing that always comes to mind is that first mellotron lead in PFM's "Apenna Un Po" Genesis - Watcher of The Skies Yes - Close to The Edge ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 03:44
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You say Mellotron, I think Motis. ------------- |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 04:55
you say Motis, I think Moody Blues  ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 05:27
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Another one I stumbled upon this morning... Morte Macabre - Apoteosi del mistero ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 06:16
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OK. I'm sure I'll get slated for sticking my neck out and asking this, but how do you know you're hearing a mellotron? I'm none the wiser!  |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 06:46
| Genesis - Seven Stones (particularly the ending) |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 06:47
Probably easier to know if its seventies stuff. Nineties and beyond gets tricky unless you know for sure that the band is using Mellotron and not some imitation keyboard or sampling. I am assuming a lot admittedly!
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Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 07:35
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I am quite surprised no-one else likes that VdGG passage I mentioned because to me it really sticks out ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 07:36
omg I had to look this up. I thought you meant the Breton prog folk group Motis but I don't think they used mellotron let alone the Motis!
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Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 07:37
I am in awe of the entire song. So much so that the passage of which you speak is merely a small part of an epic masterpiece. Absolute perfection. Thanks for shining a light on it. I'll never listen to APOLK the same way ever again!!!
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Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 07:45
agree it is beautiful like so much of Tony's mellotron work...Can Utilities...Watcher...
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Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 08:45
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The first thing I remember when I think of Mellotron is this intro: Damn, now I need to hear the whole album again
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 10:21
Another fantastic one.
Missed your first post because I was on mobile; agreed! What a magical track overall. VDGG is timeless for me. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 14:09
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Genesis, "Dance of the Moonlit Knight" is one of the most stirring uses of the 8-voice choir of Mellotron! For all of his belly-aching about Tales, Wakeman did some stunning 'tron work throughout all four sides. Banks was a master of that thing, he once compared the sound of the 'tron to the soundtrack of an old movie on a small black & white TV set. I got it instantly when he said that. Mike Pinder's use of 'tron on "To My Lady" is sublime....using sampled harmonium tapes for this seaman's chanty! It always chokes me up! ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 14:14
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some good tronwork on Argent also and Manfred does some nice Tron on Father of Night/ Father of Day of Dylan / Earth Band fame -------------
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Posted By: jayem
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 14:26
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A reminder: WytchCrypt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc96jxaYY0I" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc96jxaYY0I Already mentioned in a similar thread, but once more won't be too much ! pure magic 3'19 + 4'40 https://mutinyinjonestown.bandcamp.com/track/dagon" rel="nofollow - https://mutinyinjonestown.bandcamp.com/track/dagon
------------- http://www.digger.ch/?lang=en" rel="nofollow - Support mine-clearing ! https://bandcamp.com/machinechance/?lang=en" rel="nofollow - bandcamp collection |
Posted By: elpprogster
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 15:35
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http://www.planetmellotron.com/toptron.htm" rel="nofollow - http://www.planetmellotron.com/toptron.htm |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 16:22
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No question for me: I'm quite partial to ANEKDOTEN's 2005 live album, Waking the Dead - Live from Japan 2005 - especially the songs "Moons of Mars" with Nicklas, Ana Sofi, and Peter each playing 'tron (imagine moving those massive things around on a tour--three of them!) and then bleeding into "The Sun Absolute"--but the whole album is a 'tron treat!!!
------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 16:25
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There's some great mellotron on the first two Pavlov's Dog albums. Also on albums by Strawbs, PFM(first two), Anglagard, Spock's Beard(in particular I like "mouth of madness" and also the first album the light has quite a bit as well), Family, early King Crimson(first incarnation 69-74)and of course the already mentioned Yes and Genesis. I'm not sure if there is actually authentic mellotron on The Flower Kings albums though. It's also featured on two important proto prog albums: Family - music in a doll's house Zombies- Odyessey and Oracle
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Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 19:26
Yeah, Pinder is unbeatable man. ------------- |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 19:31
Yep, Motis the french band..orgasmic use of the mighty tron on the last couple of albums (esp Josquin Messonnier) ------------- |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 19:32
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got a good sample we can dig... that is one I haven't heard before.. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 19:35
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^ Josquin. ------------- |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 19:39
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it's all french to me man... I was hoping you'd shoot me a link or something to something specific you thought was especially killer.. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 19:49
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pretty good stuff.. love the singing..and especially the bouzouki. Didn't catch much on the 'tron however ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 24 2019 at 20:55
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S'asseoir un instant sous un arbre Au bord du chant d'une rivière Plutôt que de prendre les armes Plutôt que de partir en guerre  ------------- |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 25 2019 at 18:22
| wow thanks Martin. I like Motis and have reviewed at least one of their albums but never heard of this Josquin fella, which according to planetmellotron.com has tron on basically every track. Listening now on spotify. They are so suave :) |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 25 2019 at 23:54
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Always good to hear, a bit strange they are not well-known here though. These guys can play big time, very strong rhythm section and that Motis dude who seem to excel at every instruments he touches. Pay attention to the tron work (all-round excellence) on the third track 'Premières Sensations': pure bliss! Man, I love this band. ------------- |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 26 2019 at 00:09
| Any examples of a backwards mellotron or a mellotron mixed with a backwards guitar? |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 26 2019 at 01:03
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Dave Cousins (Strawbs) once tried to put a bagpipe sample into the beast...''when I push the keys the sound that came out of it was horrendous beyond measure'' he said. ------------- |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 26 2019 at 07:57
good advice!
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Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 26 2019 at 07:59
with few exceptions, prog folk is not well appreciated here. Those exceptions are Tull and the crazy prog folkers like Comus.
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Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 26 2019 at 16:15
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^ First time I hear about this but yeah, when we get down to it, this captivating genre is not often discussed or played a lot around here and man...it is quite surreal afaic. Cheers, mate. and keep spreading the word. ------------- |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: July 27 2019 at 00:32
I'm not sure what the instruments are, but there is backwards stuff on "Pioneers Over C" (Van der Graaf Generator - H To He, Who Am The Only One). ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: ForestFriend
Date Posted: July 28 2019 at 12:33
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Cirkus by King Crimson - shows off a few different flavors of Mellotron; the harsh brass sounds, gentle flutes and of course the majestic strings. Just needs a choir to be complete! It would have been something to see them live at this time, with Fripp and Collins on dueling Mellotrons. ------------- https://borealkinship.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My prog band - Boreal Kinship |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 28 2019 at 15:14
yup, will do! So many prog folk artists have been added that have basically no reviews, or one review by someone from the team! But even among the "giants", interest is scant. Strawbs' Ferryman's Curse comes close to the quality of their peak period, yet I'm the only collaborator who has reviewed it after almost 2 years.
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Posted By: novox14
Date Posted: July 29 2019 at 06:01
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Harmonium - Dixie Museo Rosenbach - of course!
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: July 29 2019 at 07:05
I'm not sure that a backwards mellotron would sound much different to a forwards one.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 30 2019 at 23:42
Me neither I just think it sounds like a cool idea.
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Posted By: ForestFriend
Date Posted: August 01 2019 at 00:14
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I think there's some backwards Mellotron in Strawberry Fields Forever; towards the end as it fades in again. They were also using Mellotron tapes that played melodies rather than single notes, so that makes reversing them a little more interesting. Even then, it's a bit difficult to tell what's forwards and what's reverse. ------------- https://borealkinship.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My prog band - Boreal Kinship |
Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: August 01 2019 at 06:56
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I see no one mentioned "Histoire Sans Paroles" from Harmonium, the combination with flute on that intro is one of the most beatiful things I heard. Terpandre's only album also has plenty of great Mellotron parts.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 02 2019 at 00:04
| although not prog I always end up mentioning OMD - Maid Of Orleans . I think that must be one of my favourite uses of Mellotron. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: August 02 2019 at 02:30
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The 'tron that starts at 4:00:
------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: August 02 2019 at 21:48
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"The music of ghosts"....since Mellotron samples were musical notes played/sung by living, breathing human beings in the 1960s & 1970s, many of these musicians have likely since passed away. Playing the old Mellotron samples these days, therefore, is to summon a symphony and chorus of ghosts in a creative manner. ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: August 02 2019 at 22:42
| The mellotron on that PFM always reminded me of early King Crimson especially the title track to In the Wake of Poseidon or maybe Epitaph. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: August 03 2019 at 02:11
I agree. I'd argue PFM perfected it here, though - yes, even over our prog lord and savior King Crimson! PFM always managed to capture atmosphere (on the first two records anyway) that you can almost friggin' taste. TASTE THE ANALOG, KIDS. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Howard the Duck
Date Posted: August 03 2019 at 05:08
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Well I mean analog must taste better because it's organic - digital probably has more of a GMO-like taste. ------------- MacGyver can do a super guitar solo with a broom and an elastic band. Can you do better? |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: August 03 2019 at 07:13
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Posted By: Quinino
Date Posted: August 06 2019 at 15:04
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Check these Italian guys http://https://daal.bandcamp.com/album/decalogue-of-darkness" rel="nofollow - DAAL |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: August 06 2019 at 18:53
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A battering ram. Just kidding I love the sound. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: August 08 2019 at 20:37
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsEso9JagdQ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsEso9JagdQ |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: August 09 2019 at 02:20
Plus, you get all that plastic sh*t in your teeth when you try to chomp on digital sh*t. Transistors are a pain to floss out! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 16:31
King Crimson's In the Wake of Poseidon from the album of the same name.  |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 16:34
I just posted the video for In the Wake of Poseidon and then I noticed your post just above it. By pure coincidence, I was thinking maybe Epitaph too as the best use of the Mellotron before I read your post.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 16:42
Nothing beats "devil's triangle" as far as tron goes imo. Not even PFM.
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Posted By: yogev
Date Posted: March 27 2021 at 06:33
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I know that I'm kinda late to the party but I LOVE mellotron And maybe I can get this thread back. Some of my favorite mellotron uses that didnt mention here yet: *Porcupine Tree - Gravity Eyelids (Man, this sound...) *Anekdotan - Rubank (Its amazing that mellotron can sound so beautiful but also can be so much creepy.) *Radiohead - Exit Music (when the song gets to the chorus and the mellotron enters it hits so harddd.) |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: March 27 2021 at 10:31
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Woot woot woot that’s going to take some. Serious thinking about. Like most of the posts here. I’d add them to my list. But to give an answer now that’s impossible need to. Think about it first ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: March 27 2021 at 10:35
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Every single strawbs song in which it was used. Benedictus, Autumn and New World for starters. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: March 30 2021 at 07:51
Good call. Architecture & Morality was the first album I bought with my own money, back in 81 when it came out, and that sound on Maid of Orleans really made an impression on me, long before I knew what a mellotron was. In prog rock the best use of Mellotron/Chamberlain, for me, came courtesy of Genesis, Moody Blues and King Crimson. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |