Melotron

Melotron formed in Cologne in the early 1970s around Klaus Schulze, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, and Konrad Schnitzler. They worked with Mellotrons, those electro-mechanical keyboards that could produce string and choir sounds, which gave the band its name and became part of their early sound.

Their 1973 self-titled debut album established that approach, and they followed it with records like 'Cyborg' in 1974 and 'Zeit' in 1975. The music was often instrumental, atmospheric, and leaned into extended passages. It wasn't always an easy sell at the time, and they faced some criticism for being too abstract.

Songs like 'Mir wird kalt, wenn ich an Dich denke' and 'Princess of Russia' show the vocal side of their work, with Roedelius sometimes singing. The lineup shifted over time, with Michael Hoenig joining on keyboards later. They kept at it through the decade, touring to make ends meet while putting out albums that explored electronic and ambient textures.