Released on:
The Mello Hippo Disco Show
The Isness & The Otherness
The Otherness
Runtime: 4:56
Crossfaded in from the Jacknife Lee Mix, ‘Slo-Mo’ continues the more electronic sound with big synth sweeps, yet another new beat (they clearly enjoyed programming breaks at this point!), and a theremin-like synth solo. This instrumental version plays around with the structure, going into a breakdown for a wailing flute and chopped up guitars, throwing in new percussion at various points and eventually returning to the opening synth theme again. The main track cuts out at the three minute mark, leaving a two minute environment – the band’s first since March 1997 – to see out the rest of the track with a child’s voice reading otherwise unused lyrics from the song, birdsong, some bizarre animal noises and samples of traditional overtone singing. Eventually orchestra sounds come in, building up to the next track. Having a properly long environment here is an absolute treat after a few releases without any, and it reinforces the idea that the ‘Mello Hippo’ single feels a little more FSOLish than The Isness.
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 