Released on:
The Mello Hippo Disco Show
Runtime: 2:47
The only track on the ‘Mello Hippo’ not to take its name from one of the song’s lyrics is a punchy instrumental that lurches into life from the first second, with deep, warm bass, sitar melodies, followed by string chords and electric bass lead, then pizzicato strings, vocals, Mikey Rowe’s wonderful organ solo, harp and eventually electric guitar. Effectively it’s an instrumental jam, jazz-style, with each instrument given a moment to provide a solo before moving on to the next. Running to less than three minutes, it’s a fun piece that sets out its stall, gets on with it, and finishes before it gets tired. Excellent stuff, and possibly my favourite track on the single, albeit one that really only works in context. Field recordings and filtered vocals form a brief environment leading into the next track.
Credits
Written by Cobain, Dougans, Rowe.
Produced by The Future Sound of London.
Engineered by Yage and Stone Freshwaters at The Galaxial Pharmaceutical.
From initial recordings ‘Trying to Make Impermanent Things Permanent’ and ‘Yo-Yo’ at Earthbeat Studio, engineered by Yage.
Mellotron, Farfisa and keyboards – Mikey Rowe.
Reprise synth – Daniel Pemberton.
Brass arrangement – Dominic Glover trumpet, Fayaz Virgi trombone
Flute – Chris Margary.
End female voice – Anjali Saga.
Reprise orchestration – The Mike McEvoy Orchestra composed and orchestrated by Mike McEvoy, recorded at Stepping Stone, engineered by Stik (July ’96).
Cellos – Helena Binney, Jane Fenton, Christene Jackson.
Horn – Philip Eastop.
Oboe/cor anglais – Kate St. John.
Violins – Morven Bryce, Joanna Archard, Sarah Tilley, Mark McEvoy.
Trombone – Mark Eades.
Additional la-la’s – The Electric Gospel Choir (Gloria Gee, Rechenda Elmhurst, John-Llewelyn Evans, Christine Settle, Jacqueline Goddard, Adrian Osmond, Jon English).
Harp – Thelma Owen.
Fractional Difference 