Splashdown

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Beautiful & fierce evocative/eclectic alternative pop/rock

Status:

Band has broken up. Final official release, Redshift ep, 1999. Blueshift, the full-length album Redshift ep is a teaser for, was cancelled with only a few advance promo copies released.

See also:

Wikipedia's entry on Splashdown

Comparisons:

Melissa Kaplan's voice is a dead-ringer for Katharina Franck, and the music is fairly Rainbirds-like, too. (Neile)

The singer's voice is a cross between Katharina Franck of Rainbirds and Dolores Riordan of The Cranberries. (jmgurley@drizzle.com)

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Splashdown were one of my favourite discoveries. I love them and listen to them constantly!
     It's sad that their best album was never released and now even their indie releases are unavailable, as their former label has also closed down.
     Despite my comments about their similarities to Rainbirds, their sound is unique and powerful, and Melissa Kaplan's vocals are wonderful. The songwriting is catchy and impressive, especially on their more recent work, though all of their songs are well put together and are full of hooks. In other words, their music is far-ranging, edgy but pretty, not the standard verse-chorus-verse but still melodic and has knockout vocals. I can't get their music out of my head and have played their tracks over and over without ever getting tired of them. Their first album to me seems the most indierock-sounding one and the ones following feel more experimental pop (á la Rainbirds). Blueshift knocks me out. Not that I don't like the first album, but what they were doing toward the end of their work together feels far more individual and hook-laden and absolutely unforgettable. (Neile)

After listening to their EPs, I wasn't really impressed with their work. But I'm kind of into a couple of songs on the new album, Blueshift. "Ironspy" is the best song they've written and it's probably going to be the first single off the new album. [Editor's Note: This is the album that wasn't released.] (1/00, charles.goldberg@hotbot.com)

After reading the mention of Splashdown, I finally got around to listening to their MP3s and was blown away! I immediately ordered their five-song CD EP. I highly recommend that everyone who hasn't done it yet go and check 'em out. (4/00, trow@interbridge.com)

I also was anticipating the release of Blueshift, which was to be Splashdown's first major label full-length release. What a shame that the label couldn't help them with the money and support they deserve. In fact, all of their releases are worthwhile. (5/00, Melanie.Mattoon@transamerica.com)

Comments about live performance:

I highly recommend seeing them live to get the full impact of their music. No drums; just a guy who runs the sampler and keyboards but the songs work. And Kaplan has a presence that recalls early Siouxsie. (charles.goldberg@hotbot.com)

Recommended first album:

I like them all, but Redshift ep is my clear favourite of their commercially available releases. Blueshift is incredible, if you can find it. (Neile)

Recordings:

• stars and garters (1996, remasastered 2006)
• Halfworld (ep) (1998, remasastered 2006)
• Redshift ep (1999)
• Blueshift (never officially released)
• Possibilities (compilation of singles and remixes, never officially released)

stars and garters

Release info:

1996—Castle von Buhler Records—CVB007; remastered 2006

Availability:

2006 Remastered version available from CDBaby

Ecto priority:

Recommended for indierock fans

Group members:

Adam Buhler, Kasson Crooker, Melissa Kaplan

Guest artists:

Ron Pink—percussion arrangement for "so ha"
Bruce MacFarlane—nasty slide guitar

Produced by:

Splashdown

Comments:

This album has a more indierock flavour than their later recordings, but still showcases their intriguing songwriting and Melissa Kaplan's great vocals. A fine album. (Neile)

Halfworld (ep)

Release info:

1998—Castle von Buhler Records—CVB011; remastered 2006

Availability:

2006 Remastered version available from CDBaby

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Adam Buhler, Kasson Crooker, Melissa Kaplan

Guest artists:

Bruce Macfarlane—drums
Allan Kraut—hi-hat

Produced by:

Splashdown

Comments:

A five-song ep, 1 song ("Beguiled Mark II") is a remix from stars and garters and one ("Ironspy") also appears on Redshift ep, but still definitely worth getting. (Neile)

Redshift ep

Release info:

1999—Java/Capitol—CDP 7243 5 22469 22

Availability:

Wide on release; now out of print and hard to find

Ecto priority:

Essential

Group members:

Adam Buhler—guitar, bass
Kasson Crooker—keys, beats
Melissa Kaplan—vox

Guest artists:

Joel Simches—drums
Bruce MacFarlane—drums

Produced by:

Bryan Carrigan and Splashdown

Comments:

A five-song ep that knocked me out from first listen—what an amazing collections of intriguing songs and strong vocals. The songs had their hooks in my head immediately. The first song, "A Charming Spell" is the strongest rocking song and the others are a little softer, but they're all compelling. "The Archer", "Mayan Pilot", "Waterbead", "Ironspy" all are unforgettable songs that listeners with a wide range of tastes will like. "Mayan Pilot" in particular is a song that I can't stop listening to and is on my mental soundtrack often, so I have to race home and pop the cd in the player. (Neile)

Blueshift

Release info:

Never officially released. Was to have been released by Java/Capitol.

Availability:

Nearly impossible to find in stores; promo copies have been found and bootlegs have been floating around the net

Ecto priority:

Highly, highly recommended

Group members:

Adam Buhler—guitar, bass
Kasson Crooker—keys, beats
Melissa Kaplan—vox

Guest artists:

Joel Simches—drums
Bruce MacFarlane—drums
and perhaps others

Produced by:

Bryan Carrigan and Splashdown and perhaps others

Comments:

A friend who works for a radio station sent me a copy of this and it is a horrible shame that this album was never officially released. Another slightly different version is floating around the net. I have no idea if this album would have been a hit big enough to please Java/Capitol, but it certainly is a wonderful, powerful album and deserves to have seen the light of day. All the songs from Redshift are here and many, many others that are just as strong. It's a lively kind of edgy, melodic rock that just sounds wonderful to me. The songwriting is so full of hooks it's scary and I adore Melissa Kaplan's voice here and the way the songs are put together. I've listened to this steadily for months and months and just can't get tired of it. This is the best album that wasn't released in 2000. It's a horrible shame. (Neile)

Possibilities

Release info:

Never officially released

Availability:

Available from fans

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for Splashdown fans

Group members:

Adam Buhler—guitar, bass
Kasson Crooker—keys, beats
Melissa Kaplan—vox

Guest artists:

Various

Produced by:

Various

Comments:

This is a compilation of demos, a final completed song, a song that appeared only as part of a soundtrack, and variety of remixes. Like blueshift it shows how astonishingly talented this trio was and what a shame that their final album was never released and that the frustrations of that situation led to their breakup. This band did indeed have so much promise and so many possibilities and were so messed up by the music industry...well, it's worth tracking down this music as whether or not the group that created it still exists, there is some amazing music that they did make. Their final completed track, "Asia At Odd Hours", especially, shows what a horrible shame it is that they are no longer recording. (Neile)

Further info:

Their song "Karma Slave" appeared on the Titan AE soundtrack; "The Games You Play" a.k.a. "Paradox" appeared on the Clubland soundtrack.