New York's MELOMANE make smart, cinematic rock music. They write great songs and use real instruments, strings and horn sections; they also know how to rock computers and electronic drums to spice up a pop song. Their distinctive sound has been described as Roxy Music covering Elvis Costello or Calexico covering Wings. Some have called Melomane "the most European band in America," and others call them pop-noir. Experience the lush sonic textures, sweet harmonies, and biting yet hopeful lyrics and let your ears decide. “These tracks combine garage accessibility and boho poetry with an ingenuity that will win over intelligent listeners and show musicians just how far a band can travel…” (All Music Guide).
Glaciers (2006,Vermillion Music), Melomane’s 3rd full length CD release is the group’s most stunning to date. The group has expanded on their enormously appealing artful arrangements throughout this collection of songs, notably with the track I’m in Love with Love/The Ballot is the Bullet, a timely and personal comment on the American situation as it stands. From opening track Hilarious, a deft love waltz set against the backdrop of global warming, to final track Kill Kill Kill, a death-disco invocation against violence, this album thrills and chills throughout.
Melomane’s first two releases, Solresol (2003) and Resolvo (2001) received rave reviews throughout the US and Europe including Rolling Stone, Magnet, The Village Voice, Intro and more. These CDs are available in the US on the band’s Vermillion Music label via the band’s website www.melomane.org, myriad online distributors, and in Europe through Hamburg-based XXS Records/Indigo, Seahorse Recordings in Italy and Soyuz Records in Russia.
Originally conceived in 1998 by front-man Pierre de Gaillande, Melomane’s line-up eventually solidified to include bassist/vocalist Daria Klotz, cellist/synth-player Frank Heer, keyboardist Quentin Jennings, and drummer Kenny Savelson. Frequent additional performers include Philippa Thompson on violin and saw, Brad Stewart and Jesse Neuman on trumpet, and Jody Redhage on cello.
Over 6 years, Melomane has performed regularly in NYC at venues such as Joe’s Pub, Tonic, Mercury Lounge, BAM Cafe, Northsix, and others. The group tours Europe each year and has appeared at festivals and venues throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy and France. They were sponsored by the US embassy in Moscow in September, 2006 for a four-concert series in Russia. Melomane has appeared in New York, nationally and internationally with artists such as Wilco, Keren Ann, Luna, Arab Strap, Eleni Mandell, Fastball, and many others.

www.melomane.org
www.myspace.com/melomane