Mellowdrone
A Demonstration Of Intellectual Property

THE REVIEW

The disc is housed in a transparent jewel case. The only indications are on the CD, also transparent, only the central recorded part is silver. The only indications are the band’s name, the titles of the six tracks on this third EP, its title, and the phrase: "lovingly recorded in a bedroom." The label name is Artistdirect, a sort of American Vitaminic, but now releasing "real" CDs.

Mellowdrone is Jonathan Bates. "Tiny Little" is the short instrumental opening track, built on drones, repeated phrases, hence the band’s name. Between experimental and easy listening, always brilliant. "Fashionably Uninvited" bursts over electronic bases with guitars worthy of the angry passages of Cornelius’s Fantasma. Electronics and guitars. And in the chorus, the voice climbs high in falsetto. Dazed electronic drums. In "And Repeat," it almost feels like hearing Trent Reznor's voice. His genius and instinct are also recognized in this product recorded in a bedroom.
The guitar parts, however, are more played, fluid.

"No More Options" is our favorite, a synth pop with guitar bending inserts, the weah of "Teen Spirit," to be clear. And the drums going crazy for a while making you jump, all offbeat. Unmissable. And also fully downloadable, zipped, from the artist’s site. Free. Go immediately.

This year the first full-length attempt will also be released. And it will be groundbreaking. The freshest thing heard in a long time.

[Editor’s Note: Mellowdrone was seen live as official support for the Johnny Marr + The Healers concert. LORI5 was there and liked it.]