The Mellotron Group

I found this track on an old cassette at a local charity shop. Paris' 68 were a 
leading experimental group based in Ashburton, New Zealand who burst onto the 
local music scene in the early 1970's. They were founded by Eric Foucalt who 
played keyboards, he was joined by his girlfriend Simone Derrida on vocals, 
panpipes and recorder, with Johnny Sartre on drums.

For years all recordings of this seminal band were thought to have been lost. I 
believe this piece which only features Eric and Simone was a demo for one of the 
tracks of their eagerly awaited debut  album "Deconstruction" which has an 
almost mythical reputation amongst the band's legions of fans.

Eric was without doubt the leading New Zealand mellotron player. It is rumoured 
that his Mark II was originally owned by  Barclay James Harvest, having been 
severely damaged after it was pushed down a flight of stairs, it was brought to 
New Zealand in pieces by a party of backpackers. It was then lovingly 
reassembled with the help of  fence posts and number eight  wire.

The group were touring New Zealand to widespread critical acclaim and ectastic 
audiences, when tragedy struck. Whilst practicing for a sell out gig in 
Eketahuna, Eric had the inspiration to create the "prepared mellotron" by 
filling the Mark II with a selection of nuts, bolts and ball bearings. Whilst 
changing stations the machine exploded killing Eric and Johnny instantly and 
leaving Simone with critical injuries. She did eventually recover physically, 
but suffered a series of nervous breakdowns and later joined the "Children of 
the Spotted Kiwi"  cult.

I can't give a better introduction to this track than a quote from what would 
have been the sleeve notes to "Deconstruction"  :

"The music's sense points to the signicance of it's difference, it's  
determinate transcendence in movement to the phenomenon of endless  regress."

That says it all,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AEW4x8pGZ4

Enjoy

Mark

Good back story! The myth lives on 
 
 
In a message dated 11/3/2010 4:18:05 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
epdowd54@yahoo.com writes:

 
 
 
 
 
 
I found this track on an old cassette at a local charity shop. Paris' 68  
were a leading experimental group based in Ashburton, New Zealand who burst  
onto the local music scene in the early 1970's. They were founded by Eric  
Foucalt who played keyboards, he was joined by his girlfriend Simone Derrida  
on vocals, panpipes and recorder, with Johnny Sartre on drums.

For  years all recordings of this seminal band were thought to have been 
lost. I  believe this piece which only features Eric and Simone was a demo for 
one of  the tracks of their eagerly awaited debut  album "Deconstruction" 
which  has an almost mythical reputation amongst the band's legions of  fans.

Eric was without doubt the leading New Zealand mellotron player.  It is 
rumoured that his Mark II was originally owned by Barclay James Harvest,  
having been severely damaged after it was pushed down a flight of stairs, it  was 
brought to New Zealand in pieces by a party of backpackers. It was then  
lovingly reassembled with the help of  fence posts and number eight   wire.

The group were touring New Zealand to widespread critical acclaim  and 
ectastic audiences, when tragedy struck. Whilst practicing for a sell out  gig 
in Eketahuna, Eric had the inspiration to create the "prepared mellotron"  by 
filling the Mark II with a selection of nuts, bolts and ball bearings.  
Whilst changing stations the machine exploded killing Eric and Johnny  
instantly and leaving Simone with critical injuries. She did eventually  recover 
physically, but suffered a series of nervous breakdowns and later  joined the 
"Children of the Spotted Kiwi"  cult.

I can't give a  better introduction to this track than a quote from what 
would have been the  sleeve notes to "Deconstruction" :

"The music's sense points to the  signicance of it's difference, it's 
determinate transcendence in movement to  the phenomenon of endless regress."

That says it all,

_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AEW4x8pGZ4_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AEW4x8pGZ4) 

Enjoy

Mark