***Mellodrama, a documentary by DIANNA DILWORTH, explores the rising and falling fortunes of the Chamberlin and its better-known successor the Mellotron—the first musical keyboards to play the pre-recorded sounds of other instruments. From a California workshop to Royal Albert Hall, Mellodrama tells the story of an ingenious contraption called the Mellotron. Essentially the first sampling instrument, its haunting sound has changed the production and texture of popular music—from the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” and the Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin” to Radiohead’s OK Computer and Kanye West’s “Gold Digger.” Features members of The Beach Boys, The Moody Blues, The Zombies. King Crimson, Yes, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath, Genesis, Refugee, Opeth, Latin Playboys, Goblin, Maroon 5, Moog Cookbook, Änglagård, Optiganally Yours, Bigelf, and others.
DVD $21.95
02/02/2010