Mellotron Variations: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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Published 2020-03-10
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March 3, 2020 | Bob Boilen -- We've never had an original Mellotron at the Tiny Desk until now. Much like a Hammond organ, it's big, heavy and fragile. When they fired it up, with all its mechanical gears turning tape loops and moving play heads, the 15-year-old geek in me blissed out.a
The Mellotron was a magical 1960s invention that predates sampling. It's a keyboard instrument, with each piano key triggering a tape loop — the sound could be a string ensemble, a flamenco guitar, a saxophone and so much more. Think about the flute sounds on The Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever" and you get the idea.
When Mellotron Variations keyboardist Robby Grant and I began discussing an all-Mellotron Tiny Desk, we quickly realized that having four of these beasts wouldn't fit behind my desk. So Robby Grant, Pat Sansone (Wilco) and Jonathan Kirkscey performed on the portable — and still incredible-sounding — 21st-century version of the instrument. At the same time, John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) tackled the original beast.
The sonic landscape they produce as Mellotron Variations is ingenious and impressive. It's a score with the audience as collective filmmaker, each one of us capable of creating imagery in our heads to this music of mystery and sometimes comedy. In the words of my teenaged self, "it was a trip."
SET LIST
"Agent Cha Cha"
"Dulcimer Bill"
"Pulsar"
MUSICIANS
Robby Grant: Mellotron; John Medeski: Mellotron; Pat Sansone: Mellotron; Jonathan Kirkscey: Mellotron;
CREDITS
Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Noelle Smith, Jack Corbett; Creative director: Bob Boilen; Audio engineers: Josh Rogosin, Natasha Branch; Editor: Jack Corbett; Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Jack Corbett; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Executive producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Mhari Shaw/NPR
All Comments (21)
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Love how filming of music performances can be frustrating sometimes with cameras capturing the wrong action yet here we get delicious close-ups of the original tapes in action
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This is what my sleep paralysis demon be blasting
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I’m glad the description told me who was playing which instrument, I would’ve gotten them mixed up otherwise.
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I like how modern digital Mellotron recreations are used for the parts that need to sound in tune, and an actual hardware Mellotron for the wiggy noises of the tape speed going haywire.
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I see multiple mellotrons, I click without question. I see Medeski, I stay till the end.
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The Wilco family and all their extended projects is some of the best new music out there!
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Gosh this instrument takes me back to King Crimson and their first incredible first album. This is just an amazing instrument and to have 4 of them in the office is just brilliant. I loved it. The Tiny Desk series is just the best out their. Thanks again for bringing such variations and eclectic sounds
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Every 1960's movie soundtrack rolled into one 17 minute stream of conciousness
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Favorite R2-D2 Band.
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This is so good! That pitch bend snare drum sound is everything.
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Just downloaded their incredible album....I didn't know they even had a album out or that they where a real group....I just thought it was a experiment for Tiny Desk. What a Great show Tiny Desk is bringing unknown and eclectic mix of music. Thanks a million Tiny Desk....keep doing what you are doing
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The melaton was the forerunner of modern day sampling so it’s historically significant. Old tech is always fun and interesting .
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now, thats some sweet crunchiness ..."Pulsar" is such amazing groovy track
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This music makes me feel like a kid again
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The sound that a Mellotron makes is like a musical Time Tunnel, that takes me back to those 'Days Of Future Passed'. Starts singing ... Dawn is a feeling A beautiful ceiling The smell of grass Just makes you pass Into a dream You're here today No future fears This day will last A thousand years If you want it to
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Why do I have the sudden urge to drink good coffee?
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The sounds from the mechanical Mellotron though! nice.
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Wow. They should collaborate with Wu-Tang Clan.
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Vic Mackey really improved his playing since “The Shield”
