Home
reviews
album list
Phoebe Snow
Jill Sobule
Ireneusz Socha
Soft Cell
Sol Invictus
Someloves
Something Corporate
Peter Sommer
Somnambulist
Son Volt
Sonic Shamen

Sonnenbrandt
Sonores
Sons of T.C. Lethbridge
Alan Sorrenti
Sort Sol

Matt Sorum's Fierce Joy
Noel Soto
Titti Sotto
Alain Souchon
Soul Asylum


Phoebe Snow  (US)

Phoebe Snow, 'Phoebe Snow'

Phoebe Snow  (1974,  36.37)  ***½/T½

Good Times
Harpo's Blues
Poetry Man
Either or Both
San Francisco Bay Blues
I Don't Want the Night to End
Take Your Children Home
It Must Be Sunday
No Show Tonight

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Phoebe Snow (born Phoebe Ann Laub) changed her name to that of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad's early 20th Century fictional advertising socialite, presumably due to its a) familiarity and b) catchiness. After doing the usual NYC round of Greenwich Village folk clubs, albeit some years after their heyday, she nailed a contract with Shelter Records, releasing her eponymous debut in 1974. It's a fairly typical mid-'70s singer-songwriter album to be honest, vaguely comparable to Judee Sill or Laura Nyro, although as a non-expert in the genre, I'm prepared to be corrected on that one. It spawned one huge hit, Poetry Man, which reached No. 5 in the U.S. charts in 1975, although, sadly, it didn't lead to fame and fortune, partly due to Snow's genuinely heroic insistence on caring for her severely brain-damaged daughter herself, which impacted heavily on her career.

Despite track-by-track credits on the rear sleeve, there's no mention of a Mellotron anywhere, although it can be heard quite clearly on a few tracks, presumably played by album keyboardist Bob James. Poetry Man, I Don't Want The Night To End and It Must Be Sunday all feature pseudo-orchestral string parts, doubtless due more to budgetary restraints than any desire to actually have a Mellotron on the record, but let's not look a gift horse, OK? Phoebe Snow, while not especially to my taste, is clearly a very good album of its type and should probably be heard in preference to just about anything by Carly Simon et al. Its mix of jazz, blues and folk won't appeal to everybody, but singer-songwriter fans previously unaware of her talents should grab this forthwith. Not much Mellotron and not really used in any meaningful way, but that's hardly the point really, is it? Incidentally, the CD version has a slew of bonus tracks, mostly demos, so it's unlikely there's any more Mellotron content.

A quick postscript to Snow's career (not, of course, that it's anywhere near over) is that her daughter, Valerie Rose, died in March 2007, aged thirty-one. I'm not sure how many of us would've been able to do what Phoebe Snow has done, while keeping some sort of musical career going.

Official site

Snow Patrol  (UK)  see: Samples etc.

Snowglobe  (US)  see: Samples etc.

Jill Sobule  (US)

Jill Sobule, 'Pink Pearl'

Pink Pearl  (2000,  41.35)  ***/½

Rainy Day Parade
One of These Days
Lucy at the Gym
Claire
Mexican Wrestler
Heroes
Mary Kay
Somewhere in New Mexico
Guy Who Doesn't Get it
Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart
Loveless Motel
Rock Me to Sleep

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Jill Sobule attained minor notoriety after writing and performing I Kissed A Girl (title later memorably stolen by Kate Perry for her own song), one of two songs used in 1995's 'sleeper' hit Clueless, taken from her eponymous album (her second) released that year. 2000's Pink Pearl (the name of an American brand of rubber/eraser, obviously also a clitoral reference), her fourth release, contains a reasonably engaging set of songs, highlights including Lucy At The Gym, Mexican Wrestler, Heroes and Guy Who Doesn't Get It, possibly more for their lyrics than the music, which, despite some of Sobule's work being used in the 'usual suspect' TV shows, is much better than you might expect.

Brad Jones plays Mellotron, with chordal flutes on opener Rainy Day Parade, although other 'possible' parts are more likely to be 'improbable'. Is it real? Very possibly not, but the flutes are the hardest samples to spot, so this stays here, at least for the moment. Most of you won't like this very much, but I've heard a great deal worse within the genre.

Official site

Ireneusz Socha  (Poland)

Ireneusz Socha, 'Sztetlach'

Sztetlach  (2005,  42.47)  ****/T½

Oshpitsin
Kartshev
Shebreshin
Falenitz
Zaloshitz
Ushvotsk
Dembitz
Rymanov
Kuzmir

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Ireneusz Socha is a Polish avant-garde scene mover and shaker, responsible for any number of musical groupings and writings. 2005's Sztetlach (shtetls) is based on Holocaust survivor Szymon Laks' score for Elegy for the Little Jewish Towns and Jarosław Lipszyc's poem Little Towns 2.1, the end result veering between the relatively (non-religiously) orthodox (Kartshev, Paweł Szamburski's solo piece for clarinet, Ushvotsk, for Bolesław Błaszczyk's piano and Rymanov, Raphael Rogiński's solo electric guitar) and the determinedly out-there (choral piece Shebreshin, Zaloshitz's field recordings and Dembitz's percussion and vocal), making for a difficult, yet rewarding album of great emotional depth.

Artur Radomiak plays very obviously real Mellotron on opener Oshpitsin, with exceptionally upfront string and clicky choir use throughout the piece, augmented by real strings and voices, explaining the 'higher than a Mellotron goes' violins at a couple of points. This is a rare example of my giving more than a single T for just one track, albeit a near-seven minute one in this case, although I'd struggle to recommend this album to everyone, on sheer difficulty grounds. File under 'uneasy listening'.

Social Code  (Canada)  see: Samples etc.

Social Tension  (Japan)  see: Samples etc.

Soft Cell  (UK)

Soft Cell, 'The Art of Falling Apart'

The Art of Falling Apart  (1983,  40.46/61.43/76.50)  ***½/T

Forever the Same
Where the Heart is
Numbers
Heat
Kitchen Sink Drama
Baby Doll
Loving You, Hating Me
The Art of Falling Apart
[Early pressings and expanded CD issues variously add:
Martin
Hendrix Medley

  Hey Joe
  Purple Haze
  Voodoo Chile

Barriers
It's a Mug's Game]
Soft Cell, 'Numbers' 7"  (1983)  ***/½

Numbers
Barriers

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

After the success of Soft Cell's debut, 1981's splendidly sleazy Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (****) and its attendant singles, following up adequately was always going to be an issue. Early '83's The Art of Falling Apart (initially including a twenty-minute, two-song 12" EP) has a decent stab at it, although possibly only half the album, notably Where The Heart Is (first cousin to Say Hello, Wave Goodbye), Heat, Baby Doll, the title track and the superb EP-only Martin, really cut the mustard. Various critics have pointed out that Marc Almond's rather monotonal voice becomes, er, monotonous after a few songs, while Dave Ball's synths (plenty of Prophet 5 here, fact fans) lack variety, while their ten-minute take on three Hendrix songs on the EP fails badly, but the best material here is at least equal to their debut's lesser numbers.

To my surprise on first hearing this, it became obvious that Dave Ball had added Mellotron male voices to opener Forever The Same and Baby Doll, Martin and the Hey Joe section of the Hendrix Medley from the EP and b-side Barriers; nothing you haven't heard better elsewhere, but nice to hear at all within the genre, given the year of release. I feel I'm being a little harsh here; The Art of Falling Apart is a good synthpop album, but falls short of greatness.

Official site

Sol Invictus  (UK)

Sol Invictus, 'Once Upon a Time'

Once Upon a Time  (2014,  52.18)  ***½/T

MDCLXVI - The Devil's Year
The Devil on Tuesday
Once Upon a Time
13 Mercies
The Path Less Travelled
Mr. Cruel
The Devil
The Devil's Year
13 Coils
Our Father
The Villa
War
Austin
Osman
Spare

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Sol Invictus (named for the Roman sun god) are, essentially, Tony Wakeford's solo project, slotting neatly into the 'neofolk' bracket, although it's probably fair to say that the band as good as invented the genre. 2014's Once Upon a Time is something like his/their fifteenth studio album, combining folk, goth and rock into a mildly avant-garde stew, not to mention its lyrical concerns, typified by the last three tracks' reference to renowned occultist Austin Osman Spare. Highlights? Maybe the haunting 13 Mercies, The Path Less Travelled and 13 Coils, although potential listeners may need to develop a tolerance for Wakeford's vocals, more 'intoned' than 'sung'.

Don Anderson plays suitably wobbly, real-sounding Mellotron strings on The Devil's Year, although all other possible use is probably something else. Difficult to describe, this is, at the very least, an interesting listen, which is more than I can say for, ooh, at least 80% of the albums on this site.

See: Sol Lucet Omnibus | Orchestra Noir

Maria Solheim  (Norway)  see: Samples etc.

Solid Ground  (Sweden)  see: Samples etc.

Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore  (US)  see: Samples etc.

Someloves  (Australia)

Someloves, 'Something or Other'

Something or Other  (1989,  47.40)  ****/T

Melt
Back on Side With You
Something You Can't Miss
Know You Now
Girl Soul
How She Loves

I Didn't Mean That
Little Town Crier
Sunshine's Glove
Forever a Dream
I'm Falling Down
Another Happy Ending

Current availability:

Chamberlin used:

Australians The Someloves are one of powerpop's best-hidden secrets; formed in Perth, WA, in the mid-80s, by ex-Stems and Lime Spiders members, they only released the one album, 1989's Something or Other. It's an absolute gem, although slightly churlish reviewers have pointed out its unoriginal aspects, being heavily influenced by the likes of Badfinger and Big Star. Top tracks include Melt, Know You Now and Forever A Dream, although there isn't a bad song here; of course, if 12-string Rickenbackers, lyrics about girls and, er, more girls and heavenly harmonies don't float your boat, then you're unlikely to go for it, however good I tell you it is.

Produced by Orange Humble Band member, R.E.M. producer and general all-round powerpop good guy Mitch Easter, the album is an early example (along with the second Crowded House album) of the Chamberlin Renaissance that kicked in properly in the early '90s. Played by Easter, it actually isn't all that visible on the record, with some background strings on Girl Soul, only really audible at the end of the song and a string part on How She Loves, although it's possible it's elsewhere, too; the background strings on opener Melt? Hard to say, with an instrument so notoriously shy.

So; a total must for powerpop fans. Less so for those wanting to spot the Chamberlin in its natural environment, although I suppose it could be argued that its natural environment is hidden away under anything else that happens to be in the mix. Anyway; a beautiful album, highly recommended, though not for the Chamby.

Something Completely Different  (Germany)  see: Samples etc.

Something Corporate  (US)

Something Corporate, 'Leaving Through the Window'

Leaving Through the Window  (2002,  67.00)  **½/½

I Want to Save You
Punk Rock Princess
I Woke Up in a Car
If You C Jordan
The Astronaut
Hurricane
Cavanaugh Park
Fall
Straw Dog
Good News
Drunk Girl
Not What it Seems
You're Gone
Globes & Maps

Current availability:

Chamberlin used:

The ironically-named Something Corporate seem to be classed as pop-punk in some circles, although they apparently prefer the ludicrous description 'piano rock', given that the piano isn't that prominent on their debut album 'proper', 2002's Leaving Through the Window. To be honest, they just sound like any other indie (US division) outfit to me, but what do I know? A few tracks up the energy levels a little, notably Hurricane, but the whole still resembles a (more) lightweight Green Day for most of its vastly overlong duration. So maybe it is 'punk'? Oh and it features a string section on most tracks, just in case you were still harbouring any thoughts that they might challenge The Damned or the Pistols or something. Pah.

Good old Patrick Warren turns up and does his usual thing, i.e. Chamberlin on one track, in this case Globes & Maps. Now, given the album's ubiquitous string section, what's the point in getting someone to play an instrument that sounds almost exactly like strings? I know the Chamby can be alarmingly realistic, if sympathetically arranged and recorded, but I really don't think you'd know you weren't hearing real strings if it didn't say so. Pointless. Actually, that's a good description of the whole album: pointless.

See: Jack's Mannequin

Peter Sommer  (Denmark)

Peter Sommer, 'På den Anden Side'

På den Anden Side  (2004,  36.00)  ***/½

Valby Bakke
Bomebesikker
Københavns Energi
Flygtning
Endnu en Sommer er Forbi
Halvleg
Chris & Tania
Tigger
Vand Ved Siden af
Hvis Bare Jeg Ku'
Pigen & Øen
Peter Sommer, 'Destruktive Vokaler'

Destruktive Vokaler  (2006,  41.51)  ***/T

I Morgen er Alt Muligt (Intro)
Voksende Mennesker
Sang Til Bo
Man Hamrer Løs på en Åben Dør
Hvorom Alting er
Livets Gang i Virkelyst
Karma
8-6-6-0
De Gamle Stoffer
Tænkeboks
I Morgen er Alt Muligt
Peter Sommer, 'Til Rotterne, Til Kragerne, Til Hundene'

Til Rotterne, til Kragerne, til Hundene  (2008,  49.14)  ***/T½

Til Rotterne, til Kragerne, til Hundene
Rødt Kort
Hærværk
Vi Falder Forst den Dag Vi Kigger Ned
Hvad Sker Der i Dit Hoved?
Himmelflugt
7.777.777
To Bække Små
Sandhed Nr. 502
Jalousi (Igen!)
Chancetur
Rodt Kort (ZZ version)

Current availability:

Mellotrons used:

Peter Sommer is a Danish singer-songwriter, who has also played in a couple of critically-rated duos. 2004's På den Anden Side was his first solo album, a mostly acoustic(-ish) effort with the occasional full band track, probably of little interest outside his home market. Henrik Balling plays what sounds like genuine Mellotron flutes on Hvis Bare Jeg Ku', although they rarely rise above the background noise. Two years on, Destruktive Vokaler is definitely more of a band effort, mostly pop/rock, with the occasional more interesting, mildly psychedelic influence creeping in. Balling and Palle Hjorth are both credited this time, with quite real-sounding Mellotron strings on Livets Gang I Virkelyst (listen for the wobbles on the high notes) and Tænkeboks (one each?).

Til Rotterne, til Kragerne, til Hundene keeps up the 'rockier with every release' thing, although the approach doesn't always work. Just Hjorth on Mellotron this time, with little string swells on Rødt Kort (and its remix, the ZZ Version), with more regular parts on To Bække Små and Chancetur. Real? I think so. Sadly, Sommer's next album not only uses samples (probably), but drops the rock for crummy electronica.

Official site

See: Samples etc.

Somnambulist  (US)

Somnambulist, 'Somnambulist'

Somnambulist  (1996,  55.40)  ****/TTTT

Frotus
Conqueror Worm
Return of the Son of Civilization
Globos Formas Para Mañana
Pinocchio
Multum in Parvo
Prometheus' Lament

Torquemado
Unlearning Folds of Red

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Somnambulist are one of the growing number of new bands (many of them American) who have largely (though not entirely) rejected the advances made in keyboard technology since the '70s, while using more modern guitar tones than their predecessors, giving an interesting old/new hybrid sound. They mix'n'match pretty well, with all sorts of influences making themselves apparent (Genesis, Crimson and Van der Graaf spring to mind), while avoiding directly copying anyone's style; in fact, while not really sounding anything like them, Spock's Beard are in at least vaguely the same field. I'd imagine they'd appeal to almost anyone who's into '70s-styled prog, while probably not alienating the neo- crowd either.

There's much Mellotron (from Jody Park) on Somnambulist, with only one track free of tape tyranny, mostly strings, often used quite sparingly and with considerable taste. Saying that, the string intros to both Frotus and Conqueror Worm leap right off the disc at you and there's particularly heavy use on Prometheus' Lament. Actually, this is a superb album; another one where the first listen didn't really sink in, but subsequent plays have made its excellence apparent.

See: Samples etc.

Son, Ambulance  (US)  see: Samples etc.

Son Volt  (US)

Son Volt, 'Wide Swing Tremolo'

Wide Swing Tremolo  (1998,  45.30)  ***½/T

Straightface
Driving the View
Jodel
Medicine Hat
Strands
Flow
Dead Man's Clothes
Right on Through
Chanty
Carry You Down
Question
Streets That Time Walks
Hanging Blue Side
Blind Hope

Current availability:

Chamberlin used:

Son Volt, formed by Jay Farrar, were the 'other' band to rise from the ashes of the lauded Uncle Tupelo, the first, of course, being Wilco. Wide Swing Tremolo is their third album and the last made by their original lineup before Farrar reconvened them in 2004. Probably more 'trad' than Wilco, it's typical alt.country/Americana in many ways, although opener Straightface is almost hard rock, in a Neil Young kind of way and the album's overall feel walks the fine line between rock and country. Yeah, we all know how awful mainstream Nashville country is, but this is a world away from that schlock, getting back to the music's roots and fusing them with psych and post-psych rock, making country acceptable for a generation brought up to hate it.

Farrar plays Chamberlin on one track, Carry You Down, though if you didn't know, you, er, wouldn't know. Ghostly flute lines wander through the sparse piece, but it's hardly groundbreaking use. All in all, this is a defining Americana release, although those with zero tolerance for anything even remotely country may wish to look elsewhere. The album was mixed (but not recorded) at Fidelitorium Studios, so it may or may not be their Chamby M1 we're hearing.

Official site

See: Jay Farrar | Wilco

Sonic Shamen  (UK)

Sonic Shamen, 'Tribute to Lemmy'

Tribute to Lemmy  (2017,  149.23)  ***½/TT½

7 or 7 or Not
Sam's Gopal
Freaky R&R
Ravi in Space
Stoned Dead Your Clever
Jam With Dave #1

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister's death, at the close of 2015, has had a seismic effect on the metal and space rock scenes, tributes pouring in from far and wide, not least The Sonic Shamen's Tribute to Lemmy (nicely to the point, chaps). A one-off (?) conglomerate of luminaries from the current British space-rock scene, they include members of Earthling Society, Alan Davey's band and Martin Harvey from my old muckers Litmus, in a dual bass/keys role. In an unusual formatting decision, the first five tracks are found on the double vinyl, while the 75-minute Jam With Dave #1 (that's the legendary Dave Anderson, variously of Amon Düül II, Hawkwind and The Groundhogs, recording venue Foel Studio owner and all-round decent chap) is on CD, so I hope you've got your multi-format hats on.

Musically, this is, as you might expect, the kind of jammed-out instrumental psychedelia that shows America's light-as-air jambands how to do it, shifting between the stoner grooves of opener 7 Or 7 Or Not (homaging Hawkwind's classic 7 By 7), the rhythmless Sam's Gopal (referencing obscure psychedelicists Sam Gopal's Dream, of whom Lemmy was briefly a member, billed as 'Ian Willis'), the raucous biker rock of Freaky R&R and the Eastern drones of Ravi In Space. The CD's lone track (edited down from ninety minutes, apparently), the only piece to actually feature Anderson, is split into four parts, as the mood of the jam slides from one feel to another, my favourite being part two's melodic guitar/Mellotron interplay, the band in full Hall of the Mountain Grill mode.

Martin plays his own Mellotron on two tracks (yes, folks, this means Litmus won't have to borrow mine again!), with drifting strings on Sam's Gopal, the main use being on Dave's Jam, as Anderson freed Martin up to play keys, with a few minutes of strings beginning around the ten-minute mark. He really gets going at the beginning of the second track, though, with a chordal part under a melodic guitar line, while background string and choir parts on the storming track three and strangely-not-that-Mellotronic-sounding choirs on four finish things off nicely. Should this get a higher 'T' rating? Possibly, but given that it only crops up here and there on a monstrously lengthy album, I think my rating's fair. Anyway, a fine example of 'altered consciousness' space rock of the current UK variety.

See: Litmus

Sonic Weekend  (UK)  see: Samples etc.

Sonicflood  (US)  see: Samples etc.

Sonnenbrandt  (Germany)

Sonnenbrandt, 'Gestern'

Gestern  (2008,  45.51/67.49)  ***/½

Herz aus Geld
Was Tun
Rotes Telefon
Diskolied
Lars Vom Mars
Ohne Peter Waeren wir Nichts
Radio
Hollywood
Der Lustige Konsument
Urlaubsgruss
Amoureux Solitaires

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Sonnenbrandt are a modern German synthpop trio, referring to themselves as Frau Sonne (Brandt), Herr (Jojo) Brandt and, er, Kpt. Korg (Stefan Bornhorst). The good Kapitan actually owns several pieces of vintage gear, their website showing him playing live with a Solina string synth and Korg MS10 and MS20s. There doesn't appear to be any Mellotron on 2004's Urlaubgruss Mit Sonnenbrandt EP, but their debut long-player, 2008's Gestern, is an early '80s-referencing album, full of fat, sequenced synths, better tracks including opener Herz Aus Geld, Diskolied and the brilliantly-titled Lars Vom Mars (go on, work it out).

'Korg' plays Mellotron (his own M400, three tape frames), with a choir part on Hollywood, although that would appear to be it. Anyway, a decent enough effort, if not to everyone's taste, but certainly not worth it on the Mellotron front.

Official site

See: Silicon Scientist

Sonores  (Sweden)

Sonores, 'MP3 EP'

MP3 EP  (2006,  13.26)  ***½/TT

16th of June
Elefanten
Jonathan

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

I'm not sure how Sonores describe themselves, but to my ears, they sound like a more indie version of early '90s Scandinavian psych/prog heroes Landberk, although I realise it's a possibility they've never even heard of them. Think: very slow, almost rhythmless psychedelia, distant female vocals, lots of reverb. Some might say 'slowcore'; I say 'almost progressive'. After an EP in 2004, the band released a download-only EP called, er, MP3 EP, all tracks from which appeared on their Elefanten album later that year; I haven't heard the album, but see no reason not to review the EP. All three of its tracks conform to the description above, with a quiet, desolate beauty that few British or American bands seem to be able to muster up; must be those long, cold winters.

Jonas O(dhner) plays the band's own new, MkVI Mellotron, with sparse flutes on 16th Of June, equally sparse strings and more flutes on Elefanten and strings on Jonathan, used tastefully and never overdone. I'd imagine the whole album sounds like these three tracks, which might actually be a bit much in one sitting, but in small doses, this stuff is absolutely wonderful.

Sons of Bill  (US)  see: Samples etc.

Sons of Hippies  (US)  see: Samples etc.

Sons of T.C. Lethbridge  (UK)

Sons of T.C. Lethbridge, 'A Giant'

A Giant  (2003,  116.26)  ***½/T

Road Testing the Proto-type
How Did We Get Here?
The Minch
F.U.S.? (Fixed Universal Scale?)
Pertaining to the Stars
Sleeping Giant
The Block
From Cape Wrath to Cape Farewell
T.C. Who?
The Monkey?s Tail
Kamikaze
Halangy Downer
T.C.-L.E.T.H.B.R.I.D.G.E.
A Pilot?s Eyes (Intro)
The Most Amazing Period of His Life...
Events at Ladram Bay
Methodology
Interest in the Sky
The English Tradition
The Robot
Ottery St. Mary

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

As disc one, track nine of The Sons of T.C. Lethbridge's A Giant says, "T.C. Who?" Thomas Charles Lethbridge (1901-1971) was an archaeologist who, late in his career and bored of what he referred to as 'academic trade-unionism', began to study the paranormal, writing several books on various related subjects, not least ghost sightings, dowsing, e.s.p. and parapsychology during the last decade of his life. He has subsequently, of course, become a magnet for esotericists of all hues, not least Julian Cope and his cohorts of death.

While Cope is, inevitably, associated with The Sons of T.C. Lethbridge, the band/grouping actually consists of Anthony "Doggen" Foster (Cope, Døgntank), Kevin "Kevlar" Bales (Cope, Brain Donor) and Terry Welbourn "Tekh" (Døgntank), whose one full album project was released in 2003, when they played Cope's Rome Wasn't Burned in a Day event at the Hammersmith Lyric Theatre. Its two discs feature very different approaches: disc (Phase) one is full of the expected Copeian mysticism, psychedelia and all-round general weirdness in the form of wyrd folk (Pertaining To The Stars, From Cape Wrath To Cape Farewell), psychedelic metal (How Did We Get Here?, T.C. Who?) and general madness (F.U.S.? (Fixed Universal Scale?), Halangy Downer), although I'll be fucked if I know what any of this has to do with T.C. Lethbridge. Phase two consists of gentle, yet occasionally disturbing psychedelic explorations overlaid with legendary occultist Colin Wilson expounding knowledgably on Lethbridge's life and work; quite fascinating, if a long way from the generally accepted definition of 'music'.

Frankly, this is pretty minimal on the Mellotron front, Saint Julian adding strings to T.C.-L.E.T.H.B.R.I.D.G.E., with a screechy part running through the track, pitchbending all over the place. Fans of Cope and his mates' music will almost certainly go for this; I actually found disc two far more interesting than disc one, however. Time to read up on Colin Wilson, methinks.

See: Julian Cope | Døgntank | Brain Donor

Sore  (Indonesia)  see: Samples etc.

Alan Sorrenti  (Italy)

Alan Sorrenti, 'Aria'

Aria  (1972,  40.37)  **½/½

Aria
Vorrei Incontrarti
La Mia Mente
Un Fiume Tranquillo

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

I'm not at all sure how to describe Alan Sorrenti's music, at least on his debut album, Aria (which is a chiefly vocal work, unlike the hapless Glenn Danzig's instrumental Black Aria... Twat...). Mind you, I say 'vocal' only in the sense that there's a good deal of vocalisation on the album; I wouldn't go as far as to call it 'singing' per se. I wouldn't actually go as far as to call it a very pleasant noise, either, although I'm sure it has its aficionados; sadly, I am not among them. 'Screeching and wailing' would seem to be a reasonable description of his style; maybe he was being theatrical. Or something. Anyway, the music isn't too bad, all things considered, being a fairly laid-back kind of proto-prog thing, with the side-long title track being the best effort here, but Sorrenti's tortured tones actually made me switch the damn' thing off halfway through my second listen, which isn't a good sign.

On the bright side, there's a little Mellotron from Albert Prince, with a few string chords on Aria and a brief burst of flutes on La Mia Mente, but we're not talking the most indispensable use ever, to be honest and when you realise you have to listen to that voice to hear a few seconds of average Mellotron use, it's enough to make you, er, go somewhere else. So; bit of a let-down, really. Some of you may be able to handle Sorrenti's dulcet tones, but many of you won't. To be on the safe side, don't bother.

Sort Sol  (Denmark)

Sort Sol, 'Glamourpuss'

Glamourpuss  (1993,  39.53)  **½/½

Dog Star Man
Popcorn
Let Your Fingers Do the Walking
Sleepwalker
Shaheeba Bay
Written in the Wind
Eileen Alphabet
Bangalore Flow
Lady of the Lake
Sort Sol, 'Unspoiled Monsters'

Unspoiled Monsters  (1996,  50.00)  ***/T

Untitled
Sharks Capital
My Stars
Anything That Moves
Kiss the Streets
Sol 66
The Painter
Tall Ships
Mystery Summer
Erlkönig

Current availability:

Mellotrons used:

Sort Sol began in 1977 as Sods, the first Danish punk band. After several lineup and stylistic changes, they metamorphosed into their current form, releasing Glamourpuss in 1993. It's one of those 'OK but nothing special' records, combining their punk heritage with a more open-minded approach, typified by lengthy Indian-sounding Bangalore Flow and vaguely prog-influenced closer Lady Of The Lake. Someone calling himself Peter Peter plays Mellotron, with distant choirs and strings on Let Your Fingers Do The Walking and wavery strings on Written In The Wind, though hardly something you couldn't live without.

They followed up with Unspoiled Monsters in 1996, an album not entirely unlike The Cure, which isn't to say that they sound particularly like them, more that they have some of the same influences. Steen Jørgensen's deep, gothlike tones dominate the album, but I detect more of a metal edge than The Cure would ever own up to, though not in a dreadful 'hair' kind of way, thankfully. Wili Jönsson plays Mellotron on the album, with reasonable flute and string parts on Kiss The Streets, although if there's anything else it's well-hidden.

Generally speaking, you're not going to buy these for their Mellotron content and you're probably only going to buy them for the music if you're into a certain strain of post-punk, so I think I'm going to have to say: don't bother.

Matt Sorum's Fierce Joy  (US)

Matt Sorum's Fierce Joy, 'Stratosphere'

Stratosphere  (2014,  51.13)  ***½/TTT

Intro: Stratosphere, Pt. 1
The Sea
What Ziggy Says
For the Wild Ones
Goodbye to You

Gone
Lady of the Stone
Ode to Nick Drake
Blue
Josephine
Land of the Pure
Killers N Lovers
The Lonely Teardrop
Outro: Stratosphere, Pt. 2

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Matt Sorum? Drummer with Guns N'Roses, amongst others, whose album under the Fierce Joy moniker (gifted to him by Lemmy), 2014's Stratosphere, isn't the wasted hard rock effort you might expect, but, effectively, a singer-songwriter record. Stylistically, it runs from The Sea's plangent country to the fittingly Bowiesque What Ziggy Says, the lone slice of real rock'n'roll, For The Wild Ones, the beautiful Josephine (for Sorum's grandmother)... Get the idea? Genuine variety, fine songwriting (sometimes in collaboration with guitarist Lanny Cordola), all carried by Sorum's surprisingly excellent voice.

Mellotron from Bigelf's Damon Fox, with string parts on Intro: Stratosphere, Pt. 1, For The Wild Ones, Land Of The Pure, What Ziggy Says (pitchbent all over the place), flute melodies on Blue and Goodbye To You (I think) and church organ, strings and (Chamberlin?) choirs on Outro: Stratosphere, Pt. 2, although real strings crop up on several tracks, too. What can I say? A very pleasant surprise. Recommended.

Official site

See: Bigelf

Noel Soto  (Spain)

Noel Soto, 'Alfa y Omega'

Alfa y Omega  (1975,  33.56)  **½/T½

Obertura
Ahora Que Somos Dos
Vamos a Hacer el Amor

Nos Falta Comunicación
Flechas en el Aire
Sueño de Cristal

Miserere Nobis

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Due to the usual language barrier, it's difficult to find out much about Noel Soto unless you speak Spanish, although he seems to be a 'popular singer' in his home country (see: Miguel Rios) who recorded a proggish effort in the mid-'70s, due to the style's popularity at the time. Said effort was 1975's presumably conceptual Alfa y Omega, not so much prog as slightly prog-influenced middling pop/rock, with no real standout characteristics, so no 'lost classic' here.

Luis Fornés plays Mellotron, with a pseudo-orchestral string part on Ahora Que Somos Dos, male voices, strings and flutes on Flechas En El Aire (with its copyright-busting repeating "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" and "I can't get no satisfaction" refrains) and a brief choir part on Sueño De Cristal, although the rest of the album's string parts appear to be string synth. Overall, then, rather disappointing, although I'm not sure why I'd expected any better. Closer Miserere Nobis is about the best thing here, but that isn't saying that much, so with only one reasonable Mellotron track, I think it has to be a 'no'.

Titti Sotto  (Cuba)

Titti Sotto, '¿Quieres Jugar?-¿Wanna Play?'

¿Quieres Jugar?-¿Wanna Play?  (1978,  32.39)  **½/T½

El Monquirimonchi (Disco-Brinco)
Tu Volverás
Será Mucho - Será Poco
Fuerte
Segundo Amor
Como Cambia el Tiempo
Quisiera Encontrar
El Amor de Ayer
Hay una Muchacha
Sandra ... Sandra

Monquirimonchi (English - Disco Jump)

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

The sole Cuban entrant on this site, Hannibal "Titti" Sotto (1944-1992) released just five albums, according to Discogs, 1978's ¿Quieres Jugar?-¿Wanna Play? being the fourth. Essentially a Latin pop album of its time, it's probably at its best on El Amor De Ayer, with its splendidly, wildly out of tune guitars and the funky Hay Una Muchacha, but this is an album recorded for the Spanish-speaking market, its lone English-language track, closer Monquirimonchi (Disco Jump), without which the album would be under half an hour, being a translated version of opener El Monquirimonchi (Disco-Brinco).

Hector Garrido is credited with Mellotron, which finally turns up on Hay Una Muchacha, with a chordal string part and flutes running through the track, with cellos and strings on Sandra ... Sandra, although the strings on Como Cambia El Tiempo and Quisiera Encontrar are string synth. I'm sure this is good at what it does, but you've really got to be into Latin pop to appreciate its charms. You already know you probably don't need to hear this, but it's on YouTube if you feel the need.

Alain Souchon  (France)

Alain Souchon, 'Rame'

Rame  (1980,  32.08)  ***/T

On S'Aime Pas
Jonasz
Marchand de Sirop
Petit
Tout Me Fait Peur
Rame
On S'Ennuie
Aurore
Manivelle
Courrier

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Morocco-born Alain "Souchon" Kienast is the kind of artist whose fame in their own country fails to translate elsewhere, both figuratively and literally. 1980's Rame was his fifth album, a perfectly acceptable French-language pop/rock effort, better tracks including Jonasz and the dramatic Aurore, although, as with so many similar efforts, a working knowledge of the language probably helps.

Someone (Pascal Stive?) plays Mellotron, with distant choirs and an upfront flute part on Tout Me Fait Peur, although the cello/woodwindish sound on closer Courrier is probably something else. A cello or one of the woodwinds?

Official site

Soul Asylum  (US)

Soul Asylum, 'Let Your Dim Light Shine'

Let Your Dim Light Shine  (1995,  49.46)  **½/½

Misery
Shut Down
To My Own Devices
Hopes Up
Promises Broken
Bittersweetheart
String of Pearls
Crawl
Caged Rat
Eyes of a Child
Just Like Anyone
Tell Me When
Nothing to Write Home About
I Did My Best

Current availability:

Mellotron used:

Minneapolis natives Soul Asylum had already peaked commercially by the time they released Let Your Dim Light Shine in '95, after '92's huge-selling Grave Dancers Union. I believe their earlier sound was more 'punk', in a Hüsker Dü kind of way, but I'm afraid this is no more than a lacklustre 'alt.rock' effort, more like an alternative to rock, to be honest.

Joey Huffman plays organ, piano and Mellotron, with the latter only on closer I Did My Best, with a subtle flute part that enhances the song slightly, though not enough to make it especially worth hearing. Nothing to write home about indeed... Oh and I'd love to know why the rather risible Cult decided to use their name for a song title. Is it a quote from something?

Official site

See: Samples etc.


previous pagenext page