REVIEWS: Melanie Ray of RAKATAN
Genre: Rock Crossover Guitar songstress Melanie
Ray has wowed audiences of her recorded works and live performances with
a unique, rather hypnotic, style.
Thank
you to all the reviewers. Your input enables music to evolve and provide
more of what listeners appreciate
.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
" ...a range of rock feel featuring the entrancing vocals
of Melanie Ray...recommended by Dr. Feelgood.."- Online Rock
" ..HardRock...bands that are the scions of such greats as
Led Zeppelin... "-Sam Kennedy, freetunes.com
" A GREAT
show everytime! From the wonderful vocals and jamming guitar of Melanie,
to the thunderous drums and bass, the band is in sync with each other and
the audience. I have seen them several times, and I always look forward
to the next time I'm in NYC to see them! "-Brother
Wolf, webtunes.com ->
" Wow !
A real throwback to the sixties I thought I was the only one left. Hard
and stylistic....but never pop.. I'd go see them live if they came to Denver.
"
-Steve, unsignedacts.com"
" ..A real song bird . Finally ! Love Rock with a love of
nature... neo psychedelic, bluesy , rootsy rock...Vocals are enchanting-reminiscent
of Grace Slick and Deborah Harry ....this stuff is representative of modern
consciousness. Catches the spirit of the times. A fine combination of the
best of the old with the best of the new..." Bigo Magazine,
Singapore
Better Living
through Rock and Roll !. Top Secret Line...A great compilation of
the best stuff from ten years of Melanie Ray and company.... this band
is the word rock from square one. Touching on the style of the Pretenders
at times the backing band is always excellent and creative in style. Don't
expect an over production here either, the songs are kept rockin' raw at
all times with every bit of human feel left in the songs. A crying blue
note .and pop overtones make this good time nature loving band. Something
very magical transpires on the CD in that making good songs for ten years
you get good at it. Good rock sounds about ' life in the wild ' ...Better
Than That.....the girl power of Melanie Ray with an all star
cast of musicians....More straight forward rock in the company of legends.
Pounds of raw talent and song writing ability inside the wall of rock and
roll. " -D Day Records
" What's
on our Hendrix tribute ? .." One Rainy Wish " by Rakatan features
the wonderful vocal stylings of Melanie Ray. Melanie reworked the
original arrangement but still kept the daydream feel to the song.....an
original bluesy-rock project conceived by artist producer Melanie Ray...The
result was fantastic... ...Rakatan returns with their wonderful interpretation
of " Angel " for Volume ii of Keep On Groovin'. "
-Steven Roby, Straight Ahead
"...the delivery
is as raw as anything Velvet Underground legend Mo Tucker has managed..
"-Brad Balfour, The New York Review of Records
"... an interesting album to say the least. Melanie Ray reminds
me a lot of Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders through her cool vocal styles....You
can fit this music into any number of different genres. There is classic
rock, new age rock, a little blues based rock, and even a touch of punk
rock. The music backing Melanie on this album is superb...Excellent guitar,
bass, and drums all follow along nicely.... This is definitely a band to
check out ....I'm sure that everyone will agree that this band is on to
something good.....Revved is truly a great live album ...full of
energy and emotion, giving their all to the crowd....excellently chosen
songs....good mixture of covers and... originals.. vocals are switched
throughout..is good.. "- Gunther G.,The Global Muse
*" Rakatan.....distinctive
style of music. "
One Rainy Wish " features Melanie's beautiful
vocal talent... own... bluesy rock sounding music. Check out this CD. "-Karen
Decaro Seeley, Yesterday's Papers
" .... you have
to sort of dig this neo-Blondie lead singer and the groovy little vibe
the bandputs together. Saxophones, breathy songs .... "-Sarah B., listen.com
" A rock mix
with symbolism and cool grooves to enhance your alphas.
With it's blues and roots underpinning, this is a ' trance ticket
' to an elevated sense of well being. It is energetic though not
exhausting.... Top Secret Line, if you are looking for something
different within the rock world...primitive crossover-country rock, R&B,
and bluesy rock showcasing the songwriting abilities of guitar songstress
Melanie Ray ...influences of Pete Townsend are in evidence...The addition
of unconventional tones and nature sounds make this a recommended listen.
"-DWM Music Company
" ...and has anyone
noticed how fantastic a singer Melanie Ray
is ? "- Baird Jones, Model News
" ..one of the
best new music sites " excite.com
" Rock category : Elite Artist Award " -The Global
Muse
" Adventure Rock-rank #1 "- riffage.com .
" Alternative... energetic band with innovation...overall
ratings 760
[ ( of 850 ) ] " -mpulse.com
" .... newage
rock... Listeners have reported elevated sense of well being. Earth conscious
blend includes rushingwaterfalls , wah wahs, and jaguar cubs roarin' !...
joined by the likes of innovative vocalists and instrumentalists. A percentage
of the proceeds benefits Natural Wildlife systems. " Auriga Music,
The CD Palace
" Melanie
Ray ...taking some comfortable musical idioms and influences and infusing
them with a whole different intellectual and spiritual approach...."
" ..I play it in the car on long trips ... "-Gary Paranzino, micktaylor.com
" ....her guitar
style, presence of Hendrix I can tell by the way she plays.... "
- Shawn Solomon,Warner Bros. bassist, televised interview
" ...Rakatan,
you can't get any better than that... "- Kathleen Gerritsen, hostess,
Manhattan Lifestyles TV
" Rakatan
is a commodity you won't want to miss out on... " -Kay Raybar, cable
tv hostess
" Rakatan reflects the accomplished craft of the
B52's and is heading in a good direction..." Gerry Wexler,
producer, Atlantic Record
" ...Melanie
Ray sounds like Debbie Harry or Belinda Carlisle....is more of an alternative
or soft style of rock and roll with a hint of country...the guitar work
is very good, sometimes I have trouble telling Mel and Mick apart...Mel
uses animal sounds to introduce all of the songs and a portion of theprofits
goes to animal protection groups...
I like the CD and thinks it's a good addition..... " - Al
Lewis, Bluesman Fanzine, PEI , Canada
" ......bluesy
new wave sounding songs linked by “ other musical realities
' such as galloping horses, tree frogs and rushing water. ' ....strutting
blues laden number brings out the best in Melanie Ray. "-Washington
Area Music Association News ,WAMA News
" .... of
great interest to Stones fans.... This comes across really well on "
Song for Merlin ", one of the best songs on the album and my
favourite. I would like to hear Rakatan recorded in the studio with some
of their rawness of their live set captured on tape.....
I wait with baited breath for the next album. " - T.Carty,
Tumbling Dice, UK
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