Rock Pop.  Sounds like The Rolling Stones, U2 and Beck

This is Melodrome's debut album, released in 2000.  Songs have been featured in Miller and Coors Beer Commercials and in the Oscar Nominated Documentary "Ferrytales" by Katja Esson and in numerous other FIlms and TV Shows.  

Melodrome - Highest Ground

'Making Space' album out now.
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

The keyboard melody came first during the writing process. I enjoy picking up strange instruments at garage sales and this melody was written in 2007 on such an instrument, a Casio Casiotone MT-100, a little toy keyboard. The song was called “Great Divide” for a long time as I was making demos of it. The lyrics for it were finished before we started recording in 2017.

Making Space is a significant song for me on this record - of all the songs it speaks most about what i am going through in my life: a feeling of wanting to erase everything and start over. To blow it all up, “to light the fuse” to see where the pieces may land. This song is me coming into my own in a new way.
lyrics
And so I’ve come, to the great divide
No, not young anymore
I’m checking in to light the fuse
There goes what went before
Taking apart my universe

Making space to pull myself together in a new way
Making space to pull myself together in a new way
Yes, it’s a new day

I seek the woods to thin the veil
To bare my skin to the trees
I speak my heart into the rush
The rustling autumn leaves
Where is the edge of who I am?

Making space to pull myself together in a new way
Making space to pull myself together, to pull myself together

What is a soul against the sky?
A man with a dream as clouds go by?
I want the proof before I die
That it’s all good

Making space to pull myself together in a new way
Making space to pull myself together, to pull myself together

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, station piano, Casio, percussion
Will Bryant: Piano, Rhodes and B3
Brandon Lewis (B Riddimz): Drums

Drums, bass, acoustic, casio, piano, vocals, back-up vocals was recorded at SubStation Housatonic. Percussion recorded at SubStation Studio Lenox. Electric guitar, Rhodes and B3 was recorded at Old Soul. Drums were piped into Old Souls live room to capture the room sound.

Produced by Robby Baier. Engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio Housatonic. Overdubs engineered by Matt Cullen at Old Soul. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Making Space

WEBSITE

'Making Space' album out now. 
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/ 

I wrote the original chord progression and melody in 2012 on the Optigan, a strange toy piano made by Mattel. It features an optical reader that plays back sounds from a transparent acetate disk, like a very early sampler. It is very temperamental and is always on the brink of failing. You have to start the thing and let it run for like 30 minutes for the motors to stabilize. Then, as you are recording you have to constantly mess with the speed wheel because the pitch starts wavering. I had to record the song in many little segments to make it work. Then, it makes this cool sound when you turn it on and off while a disc is in the reader. That is the sound you hear at the beginning and end of the song. I also did 2 takes of the song on the Optigan, one with the disk in the right way and one with it upside down. Upside down all the sounds play backwards! Then I lined it all up on the computer. All in all I was busy for a day getting this all to work. Fun and frustrating at the same time. I sold the thing after I finished this song. :-)

“It’s Happening” was a lyric I already found as I made my first demo of the song. It was new for me to sing in this way, more open and less affected. Years ago a band rolled into the studio called “The Top”. My friend Clemens Knieper, co-founder of the band, is an old family friend. His father Jürgen Knieper is a film composer and grew up making music with my father Michael. With Clemens I went through old recordings our father’s had made in the 70’s and it inspired both of us to explore this kind of old songwriting style that was popular in Germany during that time. You can find one of our father’s songs on The Top’s record. It is called “Diggi Dee”, sung by The Top’s Dan Stern. “It’s Happening” pays homage to the music our father’s used to make.

On a walk in the woods
Quiet I stood by a tree
Found part of me flowing
Out in waves through the woods
Found it was good just to be
So off of my feet

Where all the world is happening
Breathing into everything
Just a soul out traveling
It’s happening, it’s happening

On my way back home
Not so alone anymore
I’d opened the door once again
Geese where up in the sky
Silently i shed a tear
Just glad to be here

Where all the world is happening
Breathing in and everything
Another soul out traveling
It’s happening, it’s happening

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, Optigan, Mellotron, percussion, toy piano, glockenspiel, melodica, acoustic guitar
Kenny Siegal: Cymbals
Will Bryant: Farfisa
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums, percussion

Drums, bass, cymbals and farfisa recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Vocals, back-up vocals, Optigan, Mellotron, percussion, toy piano, glockenspiel, melodica, acoustic guitar recorded at Substation Studio in Lenox, MA

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Lenox. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

It's Happening

'Making Space' album out now.
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

This song was written in the late 90’s and was part of the last demos we made as Pearls At Swine (Berlin), just before I quit the band and moved back to the States. Having grown up in Southern Germany, I was picturing the Train Station in Stuttgart, the Hauptbahnhof, when I was writing the song. Listening to this version now makes me miss the Pearls and all the great times we had together. I am thankful to the guys for rocking with me for all these years. Their ideas, riffs and feel live on in this recording and in my heart…
lyrics
There she goes she’s sitting on the train
Her face pressed against the window pane
And from the station I looked her in the eyes
Through the glass I thought I saw her cry, wishing she would stay

Don’t look away, don’t look away
In your endless eyes a man can find his way

When slowly, slowly the train was pushing off
All I knew was that I was desperately in love
But I kept running with my hands up on the glass
Cuz when it’s good you've got to try and make it last, come what may

Don’t look away, don’t look away
In your endless eyes a man can find his way

Oh darling, your love is beautiful
Oh darling, your love is beautiful
Oh darling, your love is beautiful
Don’t look away

Don’t look away, don’t look away
In your endless eyes a man can find his way

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead guitar, percussion
Kenny Siegal: Fuzz and slide guitar
Will Bryant: Mellotron, Rhodes and B3
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums

Drums, percussion, bass, keys, fuzz and slide guitar recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Acoustic and electric guitar, vocals, back-up vocals, percussion recorded at Substation Studio in Lenox, MA

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Don't Look Away

'Making Space' album out now.
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

Written in Richmond, MA, probably1991. I recorded a demo of it in my basement and then a second one with Pearls at Swine, my band from Berlin, Germany. We had rented the gym at Camp Deerwood in Great Barrington during the winter of 1992 when the band toured the States. It was never officially released. I revised the lyrics a little bit for this version.

During the process of picking songs for this record I gave a huge pile of ideas, half songs, demos, new and old to Kenny to help me pick out the songs for this record. Kenny had a big influence on which songs ended up on the record. I am happy that some of the old stragglers, like “Slip Away” made it onto the record and can now see the light of day. The hard thing about this was, that by the time the record was done, part of it felt like the old me, the one I was trying to leave behind in “Making Space”. I think that this is why it took so long (3 years) for me to make friends with the record, to feel proud about it, to even love it. Maybe this is because now all the songs on it seem old to me now?

I look forward to making a new record with all new songs now…

t’s hard to tell my baby, it’s hard to tell
A man and woman apart from one another after all of this, angel
Just as well you're saying, just as well
and this old love is just some rusty dime at the bottom of our wishing well

I don't want your hands to feel so chilly
I don't want this love to fade away
I don't understand why your heart is killing
All this love that I would never ever want to slip away

I see the signs, baby, we see them well
But we're still trying to hold on to all of this ain't we now, Angel
You look at me baby, I look at you
This old love is acting up
There's got to be something we can do

I don't want your hands to feel so chilly
I don't want this love to fade away
I don't understand why your heart is killing
All this love that I would never ever want to slip away

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, Mellotron and percussion
Will Bryant: Piano and B3
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums, percussion
Pete Adams: Pedal Steel

Drums, percussion, bass, keys, pedal steel, electric guitar and percussion recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Acoustic and additional electric guitar, vocals and back-up vocals, percussion and Mellotron recorded at Substation Studio in Lenox, MA.

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio . Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Slip Away

'Making Space' album out now.
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

The original musical idea for this song I wrote at Darren Todd’s (fellow Melodrome band mate) House in Great Barrington, MA 2006. It was the first day we met and the musical chemistry was there from the start. We came up with 4 song ideas that day, Darren on a jug band tub bass and me on a huge Ukulele he had there. Lyrics were written in 2018. The words were inspired by a line my father Michel used to say to my mother Sibylle when she woke up grumpy: “It is a new morning and the day is offering you its friendship”. What a nice idea!

I try to look at my mornings this way now too. The riff in the beginning is being played on a Bouzouki, a greek instrument I picked up at a flea market in Athens, Greece. I love the positive cheesy feeling of this song. Sometimes when I am writing a song, I catch myself landing on something really cheesy. I then ask myself if I should be brave and follow the cheesy idea. Yes, it takes guts to stay with something cheesy! The easy and natural instinct for me would be to find something “interesting” or “unusual”, or “ambitious” or “sophisticated” (see “Love You For That”). To stay with a simple, feel good idea is much harder.

As you are working on it it is like eating candy. You get sick of it after a while and doubt yourself.The reward comes when you step away from it and visit it the next day. Then it sounds fresh and happy, positive and light. Yes… sometimes… be brave and be cheesy!

Actually, the middle section in this song is quite interesting and unusual, featuring switching chord progressions and reverse piano pad and closely voiced back up vocals… Damn!

Sunshine I just want to let you in
New day, you offering up to be my friend
Rising up to meet me
Let me throw my windows wide
I want to thank you right here
For the first day of the rest of my life

Yesterday don’t worry
You were meant to fade away
To be born again this morning
So we can fall in love again

Hey now, what you got in store today?
Let’s go, won’t you carry me away
We can help each other
Through whatever this thing is
And in the evening, to let go
Of even such a day as this

Yesterday don’t worry
You were meant to fade away
To be born again this morning
So we can fall in love again

Night time fade out slow like the end of this song
Midnight crossfade through and the old me is gone
Daybreak fade in sweet here is where I belong
Singing this one

Yesterday don’t worry
You were meant to fade away
To be born again this morning
So we can fall in love again

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Thank you Darren Todd

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, bouzouki, acoustic and electric guitar, blues harp
Kenny Siegal: Moog Sub37
Will Bryant: Rhodes and B3
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums

Drums, bass, bouzouki and keys recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY
vocals, back-up vocals, blues harp, recorded at Substation Studio in Lenox, MA. Percussion, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Moog Sub37 recorded at The Old Carpet Factory Studio, Hydra, Greece.

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio and Old Carpet Factory. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

New Day

'Making Space' album out now.
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

I wrote the music for this one at SubStation, maybe in 2010. Then in 2017 I wrote the lyrics in preparation for the record. “It’s Easy” was already there as the chorus when I wrote it. The vocals for this were recorded in Hydra, Greece with Kenny producing. I remember how Kenny pushed me to sing the verses in a very specific, rhythmic way, kind of like Prince. I really like how the vocals turned out.
lyrics
Say nothing cuz it’s all on me now
I know I’ve been a fool
Unkindly, sullen and out of line
Now i’ve come back to make it up to you
I’m not trying to turn back time
Or to erase what has become
i’m facing what it means to love
After I’ve made love come undone

But now that I am with you my fear just melts away
One look at you and it’s so easy to say
That I’m not too proud to ask for love, it’s easy
I’m not too scared to say take me back, it’s easy with you

So softly, you let it be right
As I kiss your tears away
Your big heart knows how to make it good
Our love can love another day

You hold me close to you closer even still
We’re gonna make through this, now come what will…
And I’m not too proud to ask for love, it’s easy
I’m not too scared to say take me back, it’s easy with you

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
Kenny Siegal: Lead and rhythm guitar, percussion
Will Bryant: Piano, B3
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums
Gwen “Blueberry” Snyder: Back-up vocals
Phoebe Siegal: Back-up vocals

Drums, bass, keys, guitar solo, electric guitar, recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Vocals, back-up vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, Phoebe and Gwen back-up vocals recorded at Old Carpet Factory, Hydra, Greece.

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at Old Carpet Factory, Hydra, Greece.

Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Easy With You

'Making Space' album out now. 
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

The song was inspired by my mother, Sibylle Baier’s music, specifically her “go to” 3/4 rhythm and picking pattern. It was written in Episkopi, Hydra, Greece in 2013 on a Guitarlele, a tiny little guitar with nylon strings.
There are 2 electric bass tracks on this recording, both played by Brandon, one thumpy and one sustained. Kind of like something Carol Kaye (Wrecking Crew) would do.

In writing the song I am imagining a second floor apartment in a city, the sun streaming through the window. The apartment is in a state of moving, boxes and stuff piled up. The couple is splitting up and she is just about to leave, like a moment frozen in time, a story about these 5 minutes as she is getting ready to walk out the door. I like to do this while I am writing, imagine a very specific place, imagine their lives and why it might have led to a break up, the backstory. The stronger I build up this world in my head the easier the lyrics start to flow… Even now…
lyrics
There it is after the break up
The emptiness of the world
There you are fixing your makeup
Where will you go now my girl?

Smile, just before you go
You could let me know you remember
Even now the way we used to be
So lay your smile on me to remember
Even now

There they are my mixed emotions
Piled up in disarray
What does love and all this amount to
Show me as you walk away

And smile, just before you go
You could let me know you remember
Even now the way we used to be
So lay your smile on me to remember

Now that we stripped it away
This life we had together
Smile to remember that
I loved you

Even now just before you go
I’d like to let you know I remember
Even now, the way we used to be
And here’s a smile to say
I remember
Even now

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Will Bryant: Rhodes and B3
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums

Drums, percussion, bass, keys, fuzz and slide guitar recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Acoustic and electric guitar, vocals, back-up vocals, percussion recorded at Substation Studio in Lenox, MA

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Even Now

'Making Space' album out now.
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

I wrote this song in 2007 and it has gone through several demo sessions. I was alway unsure of the structure of the song because the intro is so long and there is only one verse, 2 choruses and an endless outro. It was hard for me to break from my idea of what a proper song structure should be, so it took me a while to accept and allow what this song wanted to be: A strange, mysterious journey a la Tom Waits. Now it has become one of my favorites on this record, not in small part because of the beautiful atmosphere the band has created. And… Gwen’s beautiful singing makes me smile every time I hear it! When I was writing this melody I was picturing the Starship Enterprise theme music.
lyrics
Animals like dogs and ducks
Kangaroos the jungle python
They’ve got it down they do their thing
Eat and sleep some slithering
But I know I’m gonna die
I try to sort my emails thinking it over
Why with a glass of wine
I try to work things out when all I am is just a man dreaming

But I know I’m gonna die
I try to sort my emails thinking it over
Why with a glass of wine
I try to work things out when all I am is just a man dreaming

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, acoustic guitar
Kenny Siegal: Electric and slide guitar
Will Bryant: Moog, Rhodes and B3
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums, percussion
Gwen “Blueberry” Snyder: Back-up vocals

Drums, percussion, bass and keys recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Acoustic guitar, vocals and back-up vocals recorded at Substation Studio in Lenox, MA. Additional percussion, electric guitar, additional acoustic guitar, Gwen back-up vocals recorded at The Old Carpet Factory Studio, Hydra, Greece.

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio and Old Carpet Factory. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Animals

'Making Space' album out now.
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

The music for this one was written on bouzouki in Hydra, Greece. A lot of Greek traditional music is in 7/4 or 9/4 time. The verse riff for “Got This Feeling” is in 5/4 and was inspired by these Greek songs. The band just rocks on this one!
The lyrics talk about being out on a vision quest, to spend 4 days out in the desert, surrendering yourself to the universe, to reboot yourself, to find out once again that you do “belong” here. Vision quests are a big part of my life, having studied with Elias Amidon as well as The School of Lost Borders. I have also led quests and consider myself a vision quest guide.
I think this is Kenny’s favorite track on the record!
lyrics
Backpack off-track heading out alone
I follow the red line
Check in what’s up drop into the zone
Way out in dream time

Salvation canyon the desert rain, I got this feeling
Like a holy roller I’m whole again, I got this feeling

Diamondback come rattle me along
Under the moonlight
Moving shaking face into the storm
It’s gonna be a long night

Salvation canyon the desert rain, I got this feeling
Like a holy roller I’m whole again, I got this feeling

There was a thunder in the darkness of night
There was a prayer rising water is life
There was this feeling I can make things right
Hey hey hey

Suit up boot up rolling back to town
Civilization
Got this feeling follows me around
A sweet revelation

Salvation canyon the desert rain, I got this feeling
Like a holy roller I’m whole again, I got this feeling

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, bouzouki, acoustic guitar, percussion
Kenny Siegal: Moog Sub37, electric and slide guitar, percussion
Will Bryant: Wurlitzer Piano, B3
Brendon Morrison: Bass
Lee Falco: Drums

Drums, bass, keys and bouzouki recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Acoustic, electric and slide guitar, Moog Sub37, percussion recorded at Old Carpet Factory, Hydra, Greece. Vocals and back-up vocals recorded at Substation Studio in Lenox, MA.

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio Housatonic and Old Carpet Factory, Hydra, Greece. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Got This Feeling

Making Space album out now. 
Connect with me at https://robbybaier.com/

I wrote this song on our piano at home. It has a really sexy Fender Rhodes sound that inspired the 70’s soul vibe of the track. I suck as a keyboard player but I am good enough to hack together a part for a recording. You can still hear my playing in the intro of the song. But the track really lifted to a new level when Will Bryant took over on the keys. Some nice riffs on the old acoustic upright piano upstairs at the SubStation Studio are audible in the middle section, played by Ian Evans. I really love how this song builds. My writing has gotten more complicated in recent years in the sense that I like to modulate more (changing the key). The song modulates in each verse, then again in the middle section and last chorus. Kenny kills it on Electric guitar and the Wah Wurlitzer riffs.
lyrics
Summertime is not here for long
Life is short who knows what’s going on for sure
Good thing we’re still in love
So beautiful in the morning light
You look at me and smile and make my life feel better
And that is more than enough

Come on let’s drift away on the only summer day that matters
And I will love you for that
Let’s take all space and time, I’m yours and you’ll be mine for ever
And I will love you for that
Always

So many ways it could have gone
That I found you out of anyone it’s amazing
What is the chance of that?
So if it’s all a dream were in
Don’t wake me up I’m fine being this crazy
As long as you love me back

Come on let’s drift away on the only summer day that matters
And I will love you for that
Let’s take all space and time, I’m yours and you’ll be mine for ever
And I will love you for that
Always

Nothing lasts forever it’s said
But that’s not how I have it going in my head, oh no
Ever since the moment we met
Love loves out of time and I love you like that

Come on let’s drift away on the only summer day that matters
And I will love you for that
Let’s take all space and time, I’m yours and you’ll be mine for ever
And I will love you for that
Always

Credits
Published by Robby Baier Music LLC

Robby Baier: Vocals, back-up vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, blues harp
Kenny Siegal: Electric guitars, Wurlitzer Wah Piano, Moog Bass, percussion
Will Bryant: Rhodes and B3
Brandon Lewis (B Riddimz): Drums
Ian Evans: Piano in middle section
Carol Gingles: Back-up vocals
Gwen “Blueberry” Snyder: Back-up vocals

Drums, percussion, bass and keys recorded at Old Soul in Catskill, NY. Acoustic guitar, vocals and back-up vocals recorded at Substation Studio in Housatonic, MA. Additional percussion, electric guitar, additional acoustic guitar, Gwen back-up vocals recorded at The Old Carpet Factory Studio, Hydra, Greece.

Produced by Robby Baier and Kenny Siegal. Basics and overdubs engineered by Kenny Siegal at Old Soul. Additional overdubs engineered by Robby Baier at SubStation Studio and Old Carpet Factory. Mixed by Mathew Cullen at Old Soul. Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NJ

Love You For That

Songwriter, Producer, Maker

Making Space album out now!
www.robbybaier.com/music

I started making up songs on ukulele and recording myself on a tape deck at the age of 6. Early hits include “Nana”, “Look in the Water” and “Rainbow Doggy”. That was back in Stuttgart, Germany, in the early 70’s. At the same time my mother, Sibylle Baier, was writing and recording her songs for Colour Green in her bedroom down the hall. I learned from her that that was a thing one does, to pour and sing ones heart out into an instrument and to capture the whole thing on a magical electronic device. Now I still do that. I record, produce and write alone, with bands, with friends, for films, for you, the universe and to stay sane.

Robby Baier

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