Moog Power

by Hugo Montenegro, Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra

Overview

When the first Moog synthesizers were made available to the public in the late 1960s, their appearance spawned a series of cash-in albums built around their sound that lasted well into the early 1970s. Usually, these albums reinterpreted the pop chart hits of the day in a synth-oriented fashion. One of the earliest and best albums in this vein is Hugo Montenegro's Moog Power. On this album, Montenegro works with his usual group of session musicians (including keyboardist Mike Melvoin and whistler Muzzy Marcellino) to cover a series of 1969 vintage pop hits in a slick, loungey style that is given a retro/futuristic edge by its use of Moog synthesizer. To his credit, Montenegro deploys the synthesizer with taste and subtlety, using it to flesh out the sound of his crisp arrangements instead of allowing it dominate them. Highlights include a cleverly-arranged medley of "Hair/Aquarius" that allows Melvoin to take the medley into the space age with an array of otherworldly synthesizer lines, and a minimalist version of "You Showed Me," whose airy combination of acoustic and electronic sounds is reminiscent of what Air would later achieve in their quieter moments. Montenegro also penned a nifty original with "Moog Power," a mostly instrumental tune that uses the Moog to create a thick bottom end to support its funky, jazzy groove. The only track that misfires is "Touch Me," due to its too-fast tempo and its use of the Moog to create some silly sci-fi laser gun sounds during its verses. Otherwise, Montenegro keeps the songs tight, smooth-sounding, and subtly futuristic. Ultimately, Moog Power is probably a little too kitschy for the average listener, but anyone who appreciates lounge treatments of pop music or early electronic-oriented pop will find plenty to enjoy on this well-crafted disc. ~ Donald A. Guarisco

Product Details

Release Date:	05/17/2011
Label:	Get On Down / Traffic Entertainment Group
UPC:	0664425128628

Tracks

1. Hair/Aquarius
2. Traces
3. Touch Me
4. The Greatest Love
5. More Today than Yesterday
6. Don't Leave Me
7. Moog Power
8. Dizzy
9. MacArthur Park (Allegro Part III)
10. You Showed Me
11. My Way

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hugo Montenegro   Primary Artist
Mike Melvoin   Primary Artist,Moog Synthesizer
Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Gene Moford   Vocals
Ron Hicklin   Vocals
Gene Morford   Vocals
Muzzy Marcellino   Whistle (Human)
Gene Moreford   Vocals
Paul Beaver   Moog Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Jim Morrison   Composer
James Cobb   Composer
The Doors   Composer
Jacques Revaux   Composer
Jimmy Webb   Composer
Claude Francois   Composer
Galt MacDermot   Composer
Freddy Weller   Composer
Joe South   Composer
James Rado   Composer
Emory Gordy Jr.   Composer
Gene Clark   Composer
Hugo Montenegro   Arranger,Composer
Jordi Pujol   Producer
Robby Krieger   Composer
Ray Manzarek   Composer
Mickey Crofford   Engineer
Morgan Ames   Liner Notes
Harry Nilsson   Composer
Gerome Ragni   Composer
Tommy Roe   Composer
Buddy Buie   Composer
Paul Anka   Composer
John Densmore   Composer
Roger McGuinn   Composer
Gilles Thibaut   Composer
Patrick Upton   Composer
Paul Beaver   Programming
Pat Upton   Composer