Mirthrandir
The group
Mirthrandir was first conceived in 1973 by a group of young
New Jersey musicians that had played in various bands together
from the local area. Alexander Romanelli, Simon
Gannett, Jim Miller, and Bob Arace were among
the original members with the addition of another guitar player
who was soon replaced by Richard Excellente. After a
parade of vocalists who came and went, John Vislocky was
finally asked to join the group as he now was in town after
living and playing in the Boston area and attending Berklee
College of Music.
The
music is a combination of diverse themes and rhythms set
together in complex patterns, all replicating a symphonic format
while never relinquishing the edge of its rock legacy. The
limited instrumentation and technology was stretched to
replicate an orchestral atmosphere. As lead writer Alexander
Romanelli so aptly put it, "Tension and Release!” The
group would rehearse endlessly five days a week in a loft in
Rahway, NJ trying to perfect each and every measure of music.
After dealing with the struggles of trying to obtain a record
label and finding suitable venues to play their music, they
recorded and produced their own independent album in 1975,
"For You the Old Women" as well as produced and promoted
their own concerts at local theaters, most of which were sold
out. The struggle eventually proved overwhelming and resulted in
the premature demise of the group in 1977. It wasn’t until years
later that Bill Paquin made contact with the band. After
discovering the LP, Greg Walker from Syn-Phonic was made
aware of the group and offered to distribute the album in 1992,
at which point the music was remixed, put on CD, and distributed
globally. Given all the positive reaction from reviews, Internet
chats, and the hunger to perform the music for appreciative
audiences, the majority of the members decided to get back
together for a reunion. The present line up includes two new
guitar players who, interestingly enough, had been fans of the
music and were already familiar with most of the tracks. The two
new members include John Callahan, who has had an
association with some of the members of the group that go way
back and himself has considerable experience with original
progressive groups of his own. Also on guitar is Alan
Benjamin, who shares time playing in a progressive band
called Advent that will be releasing a new (second) album
over the next few months.
All the current members of Mirthrandir are eagerly
anticipating bringing their special brand of progressive music
back to life, as well as performing some previously unreleased
compositions.
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DISCOGRAPHY : :
Mirthrandir - For
You The Old Woman
Released - 1976
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