REVIEWS: Melanie Ray of RAKATAN
Genre: Rock Crossover   Guitar songstress Melanie Ray has wowed audiences of her recorded works and live performances with a unique, rather hypnotic, style.
Thank you to all the reviewers. Your input enables music to evolve and provide more of what listeners appreciate .
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
"  ...a range of rock feel featuring the entrancing vocals of Melanie Ray...recommended by Dr. Feelgood.."- Online Rock
"  ..HardRock...bands that are the scions of such greats as Led Zeppelin... "-Sam Kennedy, freetunes.com
"  A GREAT show everytime! From the wonderful vocals and jamming guitar of Melanie, to the thunderous drums and bass, the band is in sync with each other and the audience. I have seen them several times, and I always look forward to the next time I'm  in NYC to see them!  "-Brother  Wolf, webtunes.com ->
"  Wow ! A real throwback to the sixties I thought I was the only one left. Hard and stylistic....but never pop.. I'd go see them live if they came to Denver. "
-Steve, unsignedacts.com"
" ..A real song bird . Finally ! Love Rock with a love of nature... neo psychedelic, bluesy , rootsy rock...Vocals are enchanting-reminiscent of Grace Slick and Deborah Harry ....this stuff is representative of modern consciousness. Catches the spirit of the times. A fine combination of the best of the old with the best of the new..." Bigo Magazine, Singapore
Better Living through Rock and Roll !. Top Secret Line...A great compilation of the best stuff from ten years of Melanie Ray and company.... this band is the word rock from square one. Touching on the style of the Pretenders at times the backing band is always excellent and creative in style. Don't expect an over production here either, the songs are kept rockin' raw at all times with every bit of human feel left in the songs. A crying blue note .and pop overtones make this good time nature loving band. Something very magical transpires on the CD in that making good songs for ten years you get good at it. Good rock sounds about ' life in the wild ' ...Better Than That.....the girl  power of Melanie Ray with an all star cast of musicians....More straight forward rock in the company of legends. Pounds of raw talent and song writing ability inside the wall of rock and roll. " -D Day Records
 "  What's on our Hendrix tribute  ? .." One Rainy Wish " by Rakatan features the wonderful vocal stylings of Melanie Ray.  Melanie reworked the original arrangement but still kept the daydream feel to the song.....an original bluesy-rock project conceived by artist producer Melanie Ray...The result was fantastic... ...Rakatan returns with their wonderful interpretation of  " Angel  " for Volume ii of Keep On Groovin'.  " -Steven Roby, Straight Ahead
"...the delivery is as raw as anything Velvet Underground legend Mo Tucker has managed.. "-Brad Balfour, The New York Review of Records

"... an interesting album to say the least. Melanie Ray reminds me a lot of Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders through her cool vocal styles....You can fit this music into any number of different genres. There is classic rock, new age rock, a little blues based rock, and even a touch of punk rock. The music backing Melanie on this album is superb...Excellent guitar, bass, and drums all follow along nicely.... This is definitely a band to check out ....I'm sure that everyone will agree that this band is on to something good.....Revved is truly a great live album ...full of energy and emotion, giving their all to the crowd....excellently chosen songs....good mixture of  covers and... originals.. vocals are switched throughout..is good.. "- Gunther G.,The Global Muse
*" Rakatan.....distinctive style of music. " One Rainy Wish " features Melanie's beautiful vocal talent... own... bluesy rock sounding music. Check out this CD. "-Karen Decaro Seeley, Yesterday's Papers
" .... you have to sort of dig this neo-Blondie lead singer and the groovy little vibe the bandputs together. Saxophones, breathy songs .... "-Sarah B., listen.com
" A rock mix with symbolism and cool grooves to enhance your alphas.
With it's blues and roots underpinning, this is a ' trance ticket  '  to an elevated sense of well being. It is energetic though not exhausting.... Top Secret Line, if you are looking  for something different within the rock world...primitive crossover-country rock, R&B, and bluesy rock showcasing the songwriting abilities of guitar songstress Melanie Ray ...influences of Pete Townsend are in evidence...The addition of unconventional tones and nature sounds make this a recommended listen. "-DWM Music Company 
" ...and has anyone noticed how fantastic a singer Melanie Ray
is ?  "- Baird Jones, Model News
 " ..one of the best new music sites  " excite.com
"  Rock category : Elite Artist Award  " -The Global Muse
"  Adventure Rock-rank #1  "- riffage.com .
"  Alternative... energetic band with innovation...overall ratings 760
[ (  of 850 ) ]  " -mpulse.com
" .... newage rock... Listeners have reported elevated sense of well being. Earth conscious blend includes rushingwaterfalls , wah wahs, and jaguar cubs roarin' !... joined by the likes of innovative vocalists and instrumentalists. A percentage of the proceeds benefits Natural Wildlife systems. " Auriga Music, The CD Palace
"   Melanie Ray ...taking some comfortable musical idioms and influences and infusing them with a whole different intellectual and spiritual approach...."  " ..I play it in the car on long trips ... "-Gary Paranzino, micktaylor.com
"  ....her guitar style, presence of Hendrix I can tell by the way she plays....  " - Shawn Solomon,Warner Bros. bassist, televised interview
" ...Rakatan, you can't get any better than that... "- Kathleen Gerritsen, hostess, Manhattan Lifestyles TV
" Rakatan is a commodity you won't want to miss out on... " -Kay Raybar, cable tv hostess
  "  Rakatan reflects the accomplished craft of the B52's and is heading in a good direction..."  Gerry Wexler, producer, Atlantic Record
" ...Melanie Ray sounds like Debbie Harry or Belinda Carlisle....is more of an alternative or soft style of rock and roll with a hint of country...the guitar work is very good, sometimes I have trouble telling Mel and Mick apart...Mel uses animal sounds to introduce all of the songs and a portion of theprofits goes to animal protection groups...
I like the CD and thinks it's a good addition..... " - Al Lewis, Bluesman  Fanzine, PEI , Canada
"   ......bluesy new wave sounding songs linked by “ other musical realities ' such as galloping horses, tree frogs and rushing water. ' ....strutting blues laden number brings out the best in Melanie Ray.  "-Washington Area Music Association News ,WAMA News
" .... of great interest to Stones fans.... This comes across really well on "
Song for Merlin ", one of the best songs on the album and my favourite. I would like to hear Rakatan recorded in the studio with some of their rawness of their live set captured on tape.....
I wait with baited breath for the next album. " - T.Carty, Tumbling Dice, UK 
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