--- In freshaire5@yahoogroups.com, "dawiltro" <dawiltro@y...> wrote:
> Hey,
> I just discovered this message board, and having been a long time
fan
> of Steamroller, figured I'd drop in and say Hello.
>

Hello and welcome to the group.


> There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of activity here, so maybe
> everyone else has quit. But, just in case anyone is still around,
> what are your thoughts on Mannheim lately? I have to say, as much
as
> I like their stuff, I think they're on a downward spiral. They
> release too many compilation albums (Romantic Themes, Romantic
> Melodies, American Spirit, etc, etc), and overall, the quality of
> their work lately just doesn't compare to the stuff they were doing
in
> the late 80s, early 90s ("Fresh Aire Christmas" and "Fresh Aire 7"
> remain their best albums, IMO.)
>

I agree Chip Davis hasn't done a whole lot except for compilation
albums and his ambient series.

> Ambience is a so-so series, certainly not on par with the Fresh Aire
> series. Honestly, Bird Song was pretty bad, Summer Song had a few
> pretty good tracks, and Autumn Song was a decent album overall,
though
> it falls short of any Fresh Aire album. I think Chip has become TOO
> reliant on MIDI. Yeah, I know Steamroller always had synth
elements,
> and that's cool, but lately, he's become a one-man band and I think
> the music suffers as a result. I would have loved to here
some "real"
> instruments on Autumn song.
>
> And what's the deal with Night Song? According to their website
it's
> due out, "First half of 2005." Well, the first half has come and
> gone, and still no Night Song. Anyone know of a new release date?
>
> Okay, that was a longer post than I intended. Hopefully someone is
> still using this group and will read it!

I hope that Chip does move back to the more conventional
instruments. Don't get me wrong I like some of his synth tracks but
here lately even they have been lacking. I haven't heard any new
news on Night Song.