Chris Hunt
Music: Magical Mystery Mellotron
June 1, 2005
Streetly Electronics Skellotron
Never heard of a Mellotron? Think of that
strange flute intro in the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” or the haunting
strings behind the Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin.” That, my friends, is a
mellotron. Every budding musician of that era desperately wanted one, but very
few were lucky enough to own one.
With magnetic tapes of recorded instruments
mounted beneath each key, these tape-replay organs were all the rage with bands
in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, with the rise of electronic samplers,
mellotrons fell out of favor. But now they’re back as today’s recording
heavies—from Radiohead to REM, U2, and Coldplay—rediscover their unique sounds
and timbre.
Streetly Electronics, the original manufacturer based in the
United Kingdom, however, has kept the light alive through the dark years, by
continuing to repair and restore these complex instruments. Today, Streetly
counts Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, and Radiohead among its
clients.
Streetly is also producing bespoke instruments, coupling sounds from
the original mellotron tape library with artistically elegant, one-of-a-kind
designs—a far cry from the simple “white boxes” of the 1970s. A fine example is
the Skellotron pictured here. In collaboration with British designer Paul D.
Smith, the Streetly craftsmen conceived a modern take on a demonstration unit
constructed in the 1970s. With the case eliminated, the design makes a bold,
minimalist statement, revealing the sculptural beauty of the mechanics. The
unique open design is highlighted by contrasting gold-plated brass with polished
aluminum and reinforced, high-clarity glass “windows.” The custom rosewood base
cabinet encloses the electronics, including an amplifier, reverberation, and
speakers.
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