While by no means a mediocre album, Calla’s last release in 2003’s Televise saw the post-rock trio experimenting with their sound to such a self-absorbed point that their tranquil flavor was drowned out in a haze of programmed noise. The follow-up, nowhere near as meditative or downhearted, sees the band abandoning their mystified moderation for a nostalgic rehash of 90s alt-rock with lighter spoonfuls of their electronic foundations. Singer/songwriter Aurelio Valle delves deep into an abyss of Interpol-like darkness on the album, channeling visions of Tarantino-popularized Spaghetti Western composers while keeping the band’s sensibilities firmly fixed in the territory of brusque vocals and stop-start dynamics. And while the possible death of experimentation is distressing to those who consider music to be more than just an electric guitar, for a band like Calla we’re all better off without a seven-minute anesthetic.
Comments (0)