Today I would like to tell you all about a musician and songstress that has been close to my heart for quite some time. Her name is Melissa R. Kaplan, and it is my opinion that her lovely voice is not appreciated enough.
Kaplan sang and played piano for the band Splashdown, which formed in 1996 and disbanded in 2001 after record label disputes. She then went on to start the project Universal Hall Pass, which has released one album and one EP.
Image courtesy of UHP's MySpace page.
Splashdown, which also included Kasson Crooker – who has played with Freezepop and works with the video game company Harmonix – ran into trouble with Capitol Records that led to issues regarding song ownership. Fortunately, all of their music can be found today as free, legally downloadable content on some reputable sites.
More about the style and music of Splashdown and Universal Hall Pass can be found after the jump.
Pinpointing the style of Kaplan’s music can be difficult. From a simple perspective, it could be considered “pop rock”, or “alternative rock”, as elements of either genre can be heard. That style can shift from one song to the next, however, delving into more eclectic sounds that suggest a hint of Middle Eastern, Bulgarian, jazz and even electronic.
Take the album Blueshift, for instance. “Procreation Chick” is a silly, poppy tune, groovy in nature and heavy with the beat. Kaplan’s voice slides easily along amid the looped melodies and electronic twangs. On that same album, however, you will find “Dig”, which takes on a more refined, classical style, thanks to the piano, while still utilizing electronic elements such as echo and reverberations. Stranger still is “Waterbead”, a delightful, delicate tune that has a melody somewhat Middle Eastern in origin.
Whatever the style, Kaplan’s voice fits just right and plays its enchantments to full effect. Her vocals dance about with expert control, comparable to the finer moments of rock/electronica divas such as Amy Lee of Evanescence and Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil – not to say that Kaplan’s style is similar to theirs in any way. Not to delve too much into what could be considered hyperbole, but if sirens existed in this world, they would no doubt sound like the former songstress of Splashdown.
Coupled with Kaplan’s seemingly fantastical voice, the subject matter of Splashdown’s songs ranges from the mythical to the downright bizarre. The tracks take you from the edges of space to the deepest caverns of Earth, exploring new realms and psychoses along the way. “Dig” (and, later, Universal Hall Pass’ terribly haunting “Katrinah Josephina”) tells the story of a woman seeking truth and spirituality by digging deeper and deeper underground. “So Ha” offers a glimpse into a possibly schizophrenic mind and the thoughts that pass through it, a journey that puts one in mind of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice In Wonderland” in its inanity – or maybe it’s a vocalization of Splashdown’s frustration with record companies.
What got me into Splashdown was a song called “Karma Slave”, which tells the story of a person tormented by the “wheel” of karma, working to reach the middle so as to “keep your balance”. The song appeared on the soundtrack to the animated movie “Titan A.E.” along with a number of great songs. The peculiarity of this song stuck with me, though, and I had to learn more about the artists behind it. Turns out Kaplan has done a number of tracks for movies, TV shows, and video games, including big titles such as “Angel”, “Charmed” and “Assassin’s Creed”.
Soon after I really got into Splashdown, however, I learned that they were no longer together. Fortunately, Kaplan went on to form Universal Hall Pass, and I knew I had to get her first album, “Mercury”. It has such lovely tunes as “Dragonfly” and “Misdirected” (which can be found on UHP’s site, along with “Sally’s Song” from the EP Subtle Things). Kaplan continues to impress, taking the opportunity to explore more experimental sounds to create something unique and fulfilling. So far, UHP’s sound has not been as poppy as Splashdown, opting more often for drawn out tracks with more depth to them.
Though no new albums have come out since the EP in 2006, Kaplan has kept busy lending her voice to works such as her operatic singing in the aforementioned “Assassin’s Creed”. Here’s to hoping she comes out with another great album in the near future.
Because I mentioned it previously, I feel it would not be right if I didn’t share “Katrinah Josephina” with you. Keep in mind that all of the vocals, including the background eeriness and the craziness at the end, are done by Kaplan.
Other notable tracks by Splashdown are “The Archer”, “Mayan Pilot”, “Over the Wall”, “Need Versus Want”, and “Pandora”. Heck, they’re all pretty great. Go on, download them, it won’t cost you a thing and I promise you will not be disappointed.
