Meller - Rockable

Meller’s Rockable is an awkward creature, not quite an album, compilation, or single; five original tracks appear alongside five remixes of the same. This is Tribal Vision’s fourth release, following up on a string of highly successful compilations. Meller appeared on the first Tribal Vision compilation Urban Legends with Valhalla, which I was very impressed with. Last year’s debut album Solar Drums established Meller as one of the more original artists on the scene, fusing elements of progressive psychedelic and tribal techno with vocals of varying styles. I skipped out on it after hearing some of the vocals, which I found to be an inane distraction from the underlying goodness of Meller’s psychedelic rhythms. With that in mind, I wasn’t too sure what to expect of Rockable. Tribal Vision have once again done a great job on the packaging, with fold-out liner notes and some great artwork. 78 minutes of sound are also packed on to the disc, maximizing value. Here’s how I responded to the music itself…

The title track Rockable kicks it off with Meller’s characteristic fusion of progressive groove, tribal drum textures, and mysterious atmospheres. Squelchy melodics and a distinct scratchy noise work with the straight-forward bass rumbles to create the rocking vibe. There are some unsettling resonances associated with the oft-repeated sample “welcome to the future,” and at first it is hard to tell whether this is intentional. The song lacks a significant hook and the arrangement seems slightly sloppy at times, but it could get a dance floor thrashing.

Fatboy disappoints expectations with a rumbling minimal groove that gains distinction through a rather muffled set of lyrics that repeats over and over again. Infrequent appearances of great spooky melodies proves that the producers haven’t lost their talent, but I find that they aren’t applying themselves here. This is dull, unbalanced, and poorly arranged.

My Favourite Man takes a more humorous angle with a drunken sample that once again repeats ad nauseum. Aside from a weak plodding beat, clockwork percussion, and a restrained funky bass note, there isn’t much going on here as well. Disappointing. despite the vaguely jazzy character which might otherwise intrigue me.

Phase Nacht is the first track here that sounds like a completed work. This has a highly technical rhythm accentuated by plenty of tribal drums. There are no real melodies to be found here as the focus is on percussive forces, manifesting an energetic tribal techno fusion. Unfortunately it is a mediocre track made redundant by the superior Etnoscope remix.

Aurora is a total surprise, and the best of the original tracks from Meller. Never before have I heard a soft side to this group, but here it is! A peaceful grooving rhythms layered in thick shimmering clouds of emotive sound flows across the minutes, conjuring deep feelings with a delicate approach that is rare to hear. They’ve also managed to feature a sample without making it overbearing – the aptly chosen “I feel / something wonderful.” The result is serenely beautiful!

NASA opens up the second half with a remix of Rockable, showcasing the fat sound character he’s been developing in 2005. After Legolam I have been consistently impressed with all of his singles, and this one is great as well. Deep synthetic grooves and richly resonant atmospheres flood the speakers with a distinct psychedelic flavour; this is a total overhaul of the original! There’s even a new sample thrown in which makes my eyebrow jump: “pullin’ out your thing like that, I oughta bitchslap you from here to leviathan!” If you’re as keen on the massive sound of NASA as I am then this is sure to please.

Rinkadink was the perfect choice to rescue the abysmal Fatboy from the cutting room floor. This remix is a high energy cyberdisco anthem crafted with the South African wunderkind’s original touch. Annoying vocals from the original are transmuted into catchy phrases after being manipulated to their full potential by this software virtuoso. The messiah of modern rave has done it again! No one’s sure whether you’d lump this in with psytrance anymore (probably not), but it does make for some big stupid grins on a pumping dance floor.

Tegma is another artist in peak demand right now, and their remix of My Favourite Man continues their push into uncharted creative territory. Fat synthetic beats and an addictive rolling bass line are slathered in deliciously precise tribal rhythms. It drifts for a while, but once the funky breakdown snakes in with the big lead near the middle, the gloves are off! The development of the song is no less exciting, as Tegma builds on the themes of the original to manifest a righteous combination of groovy funk-fortified percussion and epic electro-flavoured leads. It’s another peak quality offering from one of the best acts on the progressive psychedelic circuit today.

Etnoscope are masters of organic tribal techno grooves and they put their famed skills to great use while remixing Phase Nacht. The first three minutes see the development of the beat with only minor hints of future themes. A snarling medley of dark and light melodic elements springs from the murk of the central bridge, setting the mood for the rest of the song. Sleek and highly polished tribal trance at its best!

A master of silky smooth progressive grooves, Vibrasphere is the perfect choice to remix the refreshing morning groover Aurora. The message is essentially the same, but the underbelly has gotten such a rigorous revitalization. The production value is immeasurably superior, but nothing has been lost in the translation. If anything, we are now being taken deeper into the clean and tranquil realms of morning light. This final remix is a perfect way to finish things off.

Albums with this split format are particularly uncommon in the trance scene, though there may be good reasons for this. A consequence of the format is that the album has a very uneven flow, making it much less suitable for home listening. With this in mind, and despite the flaws of the release, it is unquestionably a lucrative selection for DJs. Tribal Vision could hardly have picked more suitable artists to rescue Meller’s original material, which does not meet the quality standards I am accustomed to from this label. Aurora is an interesting diversion from the usual Meller sound, but the rest serve no real purpose, as they are eclipsed by the skillful remixers in every instance. Rockable remains an above average release on the merits of the great musicianship displayed in the second half of the album, but it’s really far more suited to DJs than the general listener. If you need something to pad out your progressive psytrance collection this is certainly a possibility, otherwise you may look forward to hearing the gems of the album hammered on dance floors in the near future.

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