Hesitant and aching, in the way that Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Mark Kozelek or Thom Yorke can be, Carter Tanton's eponymous album, just released, is grounded on acoustic guitar meanderings and disembodied, elusive vocal sentiments.Wasted and wasting masculinity.
Tanton has a varied CV, having worked in his time with Strand of Oaks, Lower Dens and War on Drugs. This will give you some idea of where he's coming from. The record also reminded me of Jason Vernon's first couple of Bon Iver records and early Seventies Neil Young at his most frayed. These are songs from a cold, alienated wilderness.
Not perhaps one that is likely to cheer you up, proceedings here are essentially wistful and reflective and decidely melancholic in tone. This doesn't make them any less attractive or memorable.
The spartan nature of arrangements here incline you to assume there's a ghost ever present in the room. A haunted album that's also decidedly haunting. By the time last track Gunnin' From the Stem drew to a close, I was totally sold.
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