Albums by this artist

The Music We Make (1999)

Stay A Little Longer (2000)

Melochrome

Stay A Little Longer

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» A.K. GOLD | STAFF WRITER

Melochrome Stay A Little Longer Loose Thread, 2000 RiYL: My Bloody Valentine, Hum

Melochrome's second record, Stay A Little Longer features nine reflective songs filled with instrumental layers and mathy arrangements. The record-opening "Season Long" is an engaging enough soundtrack to autumn, featuring a repeated guitar phrase contrasted by the warm, hushed singing of frontman Pramod Tummala. However, the band proves to be significantly less successful when bassist Darlene Poole takes over lead vocal duties, mainly because she has one of the more annoying voices ever heard. The textured, light soundscapes that the band produces on tracks like "Summer Jens," "The Years Go By" and "The Far Or The Near," as a result, don't serve as proper backdrops for Poole's saccharine, airy vocalizations.

Melochrome is at its strongest when the band's skilled instrumental work is on full display. Justin Mayer's repetitious keyboard work, Thomas Stanley's expansive guitar lines, and Jonathan Cohen's (not to be confused with NATN's own) delicate drumming combine to form a beautiful sonic exploration on the entirely instrumental "Aqueduct". And it is tracks like this one that leaves me wondering if Stay A Little Longer would have been a far better record if it had been entirely instrumental.

A.K. GOLD | A.K. Gold lives in Washington, D.C., where she slaves away for a non-profit organization and constantly compares everything to New York City or Chicago. She's earned her "cred" as a college radio and pre-1960 country music DJ, committed indie label street teamer, sporadic zinemaker/contributor, retired mail-order filler and occasional freelance writer. From time to time, she publishes Anecdotal Evidence, a per zine that will some day be considered for the National Book Award, or possibly not. If you want to buy a copy, or desire to write to her for some other reason, email criticgirl@hotmail.com.