Hailing from Brooklyn NYC, the trio Calla delivers a great follow up to their 2001 debut 'Scavengers.' The new album is entitled 'Televise' released on Arena Rock Recordings.
The album takes a good start with 'Strangler' a dark slow core tune with piercing guitars seductive lyrics 'Something s gotten into your head say what you said . . . I could do anything though that doesn't matter to you' whispered by Aurelio Valle, backed with distorted bass hooks by Sean Donavan, and a steady beat kept by drummer Wayne Magruder.
The album slows in pace delivering the Brooklyn western 'Monument' with muffled drum programming, strummed guitar, muttled talk of dreams of loss, and steamy guitar fodder and real drum tracks, the result is quite pleasing.
The beautiful 'Astral' swing things into motion, with a heart beat drumbeat with sensual vocals as Valle calmly mutters 'All my thoughts have started to wear off, just because you said so.'
The album continues to glide with calm acoustics of 'Pete the Killer,' and moody frazzle and intricate drumming on 'Customized,' to the dreamy 'As Quick as it comes/Carrera.'
The album picks things up towards the end of the disc with six plus minute 'Televised' a haunting song, which begins with funky yet seductive guitars, powerful bass and drum groove and surreal vocals shimmering above the darkness, the song comes to eluding ending which fades into inaudibility then slowly creeps back for a dramatic end.
Calla takes their time enjoying every note, then calmly, deliver the songs climaxes to the listener , never rushing to the punch line. Chris Zane mixed and co-produced the lush tasteful arrangements of 'Televise' which gave the bands hypnotic songs a unique, quiet but at the same time loud, push and pull feeling.
The albums close comes a craftful empty acoustic guitar and piano song with a guitar melody reminiscent from my past, from a Red Lorry Yellow Lorry's song 'Heaven.' The calm delicate song is entitled 'Scratch the Surface' with sparse drums, light bass, barely audible chaotic guitar feedback as Valle sings 'All this time tracing lines you can't see . . . to me, Custom designed to a mere perfection be the tension that'll fill the air.' and ending with 'I thought you'd get that it's typical of me/ so a surface mark is so hard to see the surface Scratch you left on me.'
I recommend keeping your eyes peeled and ears tuned for Calla, a true listening pleasure.
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