Mellotronists

Just got the new MM+W album today, titled "End Of The World Party 
(Just In Case)" and the first track right off the bat sounds like it 
might be an instrumental hip-hop tune (I was waiting forever for the 
vocals to kick in), and was loaded with up front Mellotron strings, 
flute, cello and was quite the mish mash workout... to sum it up it 
reminded me of how the first South album would sound like if Steve 
Fisk was in the band. It goes on--twelve lounge-to-funk numbers that 
are really quite savvy, retro-cool and unique! I think now Medeski 
Martin & Wood have taken over from St. Germain as the Blue Note 
label's furthest cry from traditional jazz that put 'em on the map 
years and years ago.