Phil Becker (Terry Gross, Pins Of Light) contributed drums and percussion to a few tracks on “Turn To Earth,” recording the album at El Studio in San Francisco. With Becker at the helm, the synths have become more prominent (“Cosmicity,” “Roboflow,” “Migration”) and the tone heavier on the Doom (“Cloudstorming,” “Unlock The Land,” title-track): several moments could even serve as background music for epic dark fantasy films like Conan the Barbarian, Fire and Ice, or Heavy Metal.
As exquisite as “Turn To Earth” is, Melton are best appreciated as a live act: their recordings as well as their gigs are largely improvised – not so much composed as birthed. And yet their most recent tour ended abruptly and perilously. The group had to cancel its final three shows once members were admitted to Arnhem hospital in the Netherlands. Five years later, reinforcements have strengthened the band and restocked its arsenal of great tracks.
After the rockus interruptus of that 2018 tour and the tantric tease of the intervening Covid lockdown, Melton have some unfinished business. An October 2023 tour is poised to set the freshly minted quartet back onto the stages of Europe and within the cerebral folds of its fans.
“Turn To Earth,” sure … but keep your head in outer space.
CARLTON MELTON 2023 UK SHOWS:
Oct 12 – LONDON – STRONGROOM BAR w/ Black Helium and Psychic Lemon
Oct 13 – GLASTONBURY – KING ARTHUR w/ Dead Otter and Thee Crow
Oct 14 – HEBDEN BRIDGE – THE TRADES CLUB w/ Dead Sea Apes, Dead Otter and Waka (DJ Set)
Oct 15 – GLASGOW – IVORY BLACKS w/ Nebula, The Cosmic Dead and Lucid Sins
Oct 17 – SALISBURY – THE WINCHESTER GATE
Oct 18 – BRISTOL – CROFTER RIGHTS w/ Sonic Jesus and Stereocilia
Oct 19 – MARGATE – BAR NOTHING
Lineup:
Andy Duvall / Drums and Guitar
Clint Golden / Bass
Rich Millman / Guitar and Synth
Anthony Taibi / Synth and Guitar
