Jazzy roots-funk soundtracks for a post-rock planet.
Hypnotic, exotic, organically grown.
Hypnotic, exotic, organically grown.
"Makes me wanna wear my moose pelvic headdress and power dance spring equinox mountain chants beside the Matanuska Glacier."
–Wild Bill Schmidtkunz, Sutton, Alaska
The Meltdown Groove...
...is the umbrella under which Mike Starling composes and produces his addictive brand of contemporary, post-rock instrumental music. A hypnotic gumbo of deep bass grooves, funky drum loops, bluesy guitars and exotic percussion and wind instruments, these original compositions have been heard on numerous TV and movie soundtracks and are featured on several recordings. Back now in his old stomping grounds a few blocks from the banks of the Mississippi in western Wisconsin, Mike is currently plotting the next chapter in The Meltdown Groove story.
GUITAR MOODS (2006) A collection of six-string ensemble pieces inspired by Starling’s travels in Ireland, New Zealand and America’s own Great River Road.
"Quite a new world for instrumental guitar subtlety,” wrote Martin Jack Rosenblum in the Shepherd Express. “Standout moments include the spare rasp of 'Above The Clouds,' the sonic narrative 'Rememory,' the dance through dust of 'Amarilla' and, especially, the dirge that refuses sorrow of 'Sophie & Boscho'" |
DIDJERIBLUE (2003) Street musicians in Sydney, Australia, introduced Starling to the primal growl of the didgeridoo, and he knew immediately that he had to find a way to incorporate this ancient Aboriginal wind instrument into his music.
Spurred on by A&R folks at Pump Audio, who heard some of his initial experiments, he completed the seven compositions that became Didjeriblue Vol. 1. Tracks from this album have since been heard on soundtracks on the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Biography, A&E, MTV, VH1 and many more. |
THUNDERBIRD (1992) A low-tech set of guitar-based instrumental sketches made on a four-track cassette recorder, this early collection nevertheless inspired rave reviews.
"Extremely rootsy and homey,” wrote Ted Johnson in LAX Magazine. “Sounds like the background music for some rustic weirded-out documentary; jangly and melodic but funky at unexpected moments. Never does Starling try blowing anybody away with his instrumental virtuosity (he has no delusions of being the next Leo Kottke), but instead allows the tunes to brew slowly and more often than not, satisfyingly." |
This is the official website of The Meltdown Groove recording project. Photography & text ©Mike Starling. Guitar Moods album cover painting Musician ©Shelly Rosenquist. All rights reserved.
