The Mellotron was a vital instrument during the progressive rock era of the 60s and 70s. Developed in 1963 and prominently featured in bands such as Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson, it provided many unique sounds that became an identifying aspect of the era's sound.
The Mellotron creates sounds when a key is pressed that drags magnetic tape across a head. The M400 was the best selling model (the 3rd one, released in 1970,) of 5, before many bands moved on to newer technology and synthesizers. A resurgence of popularity lead to reproduction of the instrument by Streetly Electronics in 2007 with the M4000. "Watcher of the Skie"s by Genesis was a major Mellotron song, so much that the M4000 contains a "Watcher Mix" sound incorporated into it.
One of my favorite songs incorporating the Mellotron is "Dancing with the Moonlight Knight" by Genesis. The Mellotron is used in the middle section of the song with a choir sound and strings towards the end. I love the rock opera feel of the song as it builds momentum throughout its duration, while returning to a soft outro to end. It creates a sense of grandness and urgency, while remaining energetic and melodic.
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