2006:  Many things Mellotronic, including MONEYPITS from February and June (and one from September that's finally done...)
 

Mellotronist Lee Richards releases "Another Day in Paradise" featuring "Leaving for the Black Sand" recorded during February's MONEYPIT Violins, guitars, and bass provide the backbone for these gentle, flowing tracks while Mellotron, synthesizer, cello, viola, and other instruments add to the variety. Click here for the review Audition some tune snippets on CDBaby Check out Lee's Mellotron work on "Leaving for the Black Sand" here as part of MONEYPIT February 2006
Review:  Shannon Taylor "if it is to be as it is" A collection of real, honest, and personal electro/acoustic songs with a slight pop edge and a good dose of Mellotron. Click here for the review Audition some tune snippets on CDBaby Click here for Shannon's web site, MP3 samples, and more information
"Improvised Waves" has been called everything from "a nice release" to "a new form of e.m."  Click here for more information. Track 1 received airplay on STAR'S END on October 15, 2006!

• December:  Peter Leversley, the man behind the electronics for all Mellotrons from the Mark II to the M400, dies at the age of 70.  That SMS2 you received from Streetly may have been assembled by Mr. Leversley himself.  He also recently designed a new Mark II motor controller for Robert Fripp for increased stability.  "Peter was a gem of a bloke...He was a genius, and we will miss him," says Streetly's Martin Smith in this posting.
  
  Sincerest condolences to the Leversley family from the Mellotronists.
  
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  Streetly announces the availability of a few Birotron sounds for your Mellotron!  Click to check them out:
  • Birotron Choir
  • Tripled Cello
  • Glenn Miller
  • Taurus Bass Pedals
    
     
• November:  A stunning and fully original Mellotron Mark II goes up for auction on EBay.  #127 was a Mark I upgraded to a Mark II, and it has lived its entire life in one place.  It is reported to be in fine---if dusty---condition.  Original Three Arse Bench included.
  Martin Smith notes:  "If ever there was a MKII to buy then this is it."
   
• October:  Improvised Waves gets airplay on Star's End, the radio show hosted by Chuck van Zyl highlighting ambient, electronic, and space music and electronic music technology.
   
• September:  MONEYPIT returns to the Mellotron Ranch and unveils a restored Mark II once owned by one of the former keyboard players of the Moody Blues...and a Mark V (heavily modified) once owned by another former keyboard player of the Moody Blues!  Full story to come...

  
   

• August:  Streetly announces that the M4000 is delayed.  In this post from Martin Smith:
  Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control we are awaiting one piece of circuitry that is clever and vital. A series of unforseen unforseens have held us up in this regard [...]
   
• July: 
  • Mellotronist Lee Richards releases "Another Day in Paradise".  Its twelfth track just happens to be "Leaving for the Black Sand".
    • Recording "Leaving for the Black Sand"
    • More info and snippets from "Another Day in Paradise"
    • A review of "Another Day in Paradise"
  • Streetly announces SIX TRACK TAPES for the Mellotron, allowing for 5 blended sounds per tape in existing 3-track Mellotrons.  In a message to the Mellotronists list, Martin Smith explained how it works.
    
    Select any six sounds, such as:
    
        MKII Flute - MKII Violins - MKII Brass - String Section - Eight Voice Choir - Boys Choir
    
    And you can play blends of each pair of tracks:
    
        Track A ) Flute/Violins  Track A+B ) Violins/Brass   Track B) Brass/String Section
                      Track B+C) String Section/Eight Voice  Track C) Eight Voice/Boys
    
    How does it sound?  Click here for an MP3 demo.

• June:
  • "Improvised Waves" reviewed in Groove's E-dition magazine.
  • Long standing wobblies between Mellotron Archives and Streetly Electronics ended

    Dear All, Streetly and Mellotron have made their peace. Both JB and myself have both spoken with Dave Kean directly and misunderstandings of the past were put to rest with apologies all round. We then contacted Markus and cemented our future relationship. There now exists a state of friendship and mutual respect for each other whilst recognising that healthy competition exists between us. I think all of you will welcome this as much as we do. Best, Martin and John STREETLY ELECTRONICS

    With that note from Martin Smith (Streetly Electronics) to the Mellotronists list on 14-June-2006, the period of unease between Mellotron Archives and Streetly Electronics has been declared over.

  • MONEYPIT heads back to the Mellotron Ranch in Vermont for the unveiling of three repaired machines.  Visit this site for the report.
     
• May:  A Mellotron Mark V once owned by Patrick Moraz surfaces and is sent to the Mellotron Ranch for repair.
   

   

• February:

  • MONEYPIT heads to the Mellotron Ranch in Vermont.  Click here for the report.
     
  • AIRPLAY in February on Finnish Radio's Avaruusromua of Improvised Waves and a tune recorded at the February MONEYPIT get-together

• January:  MONEYPIT visits QDivision to check out the Chamberlin Music Master 600 and a Mellotron Mark II