Released 12/07/2010, through Agitated Records



Sweet Mother of Allah, Pass It On starts with an almighty crash.  Things rarely let up throughout as the album treats us to a hazy, Philosophy students wet dream of spaced-out stoner psyche. 

Opener ‘When You’re In’, a Pink Floyd cover, is one of the more accesible tunes of the record with its grooving guitar lick synching up nicely with the slow deliberate drumbeat to offer us a more appealing way into the bowels of the bands' seemingly neverending drone.

‘Found Children’ then continues the voyage to acid country, with unsettling space sounds lifted direct from a 50’s horror B-Movie.  It’s not quite enough to make you hide behind the sofa, but it might make you think twice about going outside on a full moon.

‘Off The Grid’ changes the game somewhat, with some punchy, sparse beats reminiscient of Boards of Canada- another relentlessly experimental outfit who being under the influence will help you appreciate.  It’s actually one of my favourite tracks on the album- there’s less of the industrial drone and something reminiscent of a melody, even if the percussion is a mile away from salsa or anything that’ll make you want to, you know, dance.

‘Drizzle’ is a slow moving number, a gentle spatial drawl that begins with some tinkly guitar and barely there drums that pulse and tribalise the further the track moves towards its faraway destination. It’s all very floaty, dreamy, the aural equivalent of oxygen starvation (in a nice way).  Following song ‘Against The Wall’ ratchets up the volume again, and the atmosphere darkens as the incessant rhythms propel the song into a gentle, disturbing chaos that reaches its disparate apex with some heavy cymbal smashing.

It should be noted that Pass It On was recorded entirely live in a Geodesic Dome in Northern California.  In fact, Carlton Melton were a band formed purely to perform in said Geodesic Dome, which may just give some insight into the sort of people and music you’re working with.  On a personal level, this isn’t the sort of thing I’d normally stick on- it’s just a little too spare, too industrial.   But put in context you can certainly see its appeal; there is something engaging in its otherworldy nature and judging by the recent success of Wooden Shijps and the winning of the Mojo Maverick prize by Hawkwind , space-psyche is back in vogue.  Basically, if you like this sort of thing you’ll probably go nuts for it.  If you don’t, well, you won’t.



5.5/10

Posted In Album Reviews, Jul 16 2010. Words - David