(04.11.09) IN these times of economic downturn, with talk of recession exiting every mouth and entering every ear, the prospect of setting up a record label may seem even more daunting; not for Mellophonia Records. The label came to existence in January of 2009 and is already headed for its fourth release, it’s only April! So are these guys foolhardy madmen or do they know something we don’t?
Ritmolider and Kaleidoscope open the Mellophonia account. Ritmoldier starts out his debut 12″ in peculiar fashion, with a remix by Flexx artist Beat Broker of the title work “Kaleidoscope.” Starting your first record with a track by someone else is strange, but pulled off in this case as Beat Broker adds his own brand of cosmic space electro to the EP. The low tempo jazzy basslines of “Futuristic Romance” follow suit. Ritmoldier folds synthesizer and slow cosmic disco sounds to produce a seminal floating piece. Start over again and the original of “Kaleidoscope” introduces itself. Brazen guitar strings and shoots of analogue spaceships orbit one another with some pleasant shoulder pushing nu disco. “Tonight at the Discotechque” plays the national anthem on this debut work. Low disco action is crossed with vintage synthesizer sound to ease the dancer out of their Kaleidoscope dream haze.
The Moonstring Ensemble by Ritmolider follows Kaleidoscope. Warming cosmic compositions open the 12″ with part one of “The Moonstring Ensemble” landing first. The track shapes and moves in classic neo cosmic disco form, slow in BPM but with an unmistakable glitterati glimmer to it. Synth cascades roll and play in part two, with beats propping up the space backdrop of Ritmolider’s sonorous universe. With each track Ritmolider shifts his moonboots into a slightly new galactic stance, such as the even pitch of part three with its staccato synthlines and haunting tones. “Images from the Lander” injects some new energy into the record. The synth action is kept in rounded analogue, but a disco floor tension is added to produce a new aspect for this record’s finale.
For their third installment Mellophonia keep the listener in his disco pod orbiting the cosmic heavens with a new artist: Astroport. This debut outing sends the intrepid space explorer to the red world with Midnight on Mars. The record touches down on the scarlet planet with “Midnight on Mars Part One,” a new spacewalk into the outer analogue regions of cosmic disco. Swimming synthesizers blend with drums and bass to create a neo-disco stroll through the atmospheric pressures of mirror-ball influences. Part two brings the 12″ to its journey’s end. The sister track has a different feel to its a-side brother, with sharper beats and synthlines of greater bravado. Disco space fills the track with a bolstering passion as Astroport moves emphasis and energy throughout the 12″.
Mellophonia are pushing new pathways in cosmic disco. They haven’t gone down the cleaner cut route of Lindstrom or Prins Thomas, they have utilized vintage synth sounds to produce a warmer 1970s rocket launch. The tracks have some of the Gino Soccio softness of Canadian disco, but the otherworldly appetite of synthesizer pioneers. Mellophonia, looks to be a label for cosmic zealots to keep their telescopes, or kaleidoscopes rather, on.
All releases listed above are out now on Mellophonia.
