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Rating:
I absolutely loved "Televise," the previous work by Calla, purebred New Yorkers from Brooklyn.
Perhaps it's this metropolitan dimension of theirs, or more likely the deliberate and ostentatious detachment from it, that colors the trio's passages. Warm, welcoming passages, despite the edginess; reaching their fourth studio album, we can talk about a Calla sound, recognizable, characterized. Dragging, screaming guitars, Aurelio Valle's subdued voice, the insistent, often martial drums, and a pulsing bass that serves as the foundation of a sound that is now unmistakable.
Strengths of the previous work that are found punctually and with renewed energy in this new album that develops the discourse, furthering it, adding another handful of frankly exceptional tracks.
Sure, one might argue that there's nothing new, but who wanted that? Valle's songwriting has reached a surprising maturity and awareness, the cohesion is palpable in every note, and the atmospheres are increasingly warm and engaging.
A rain album perhaps, like "Televise," dark, but not only that. The melodies are catchy, subtle, they draw you into the folds, into the empty spaces to fill, they allow no distractions. From the attack of "It Dawned On Me" to the relentless bass of "Pulverized," pure late-industrial poetry, pierced by the notes of a piano of moving sweetness. Sometimes it feels like being in the smoky atmosphere of 90s Bristol, elbow to elbow with Beth Gibbons.
The album practically shows no weak moments, living on a constantly tense dramatic tension and alternating a well-conceived setlist. If we really want to find the needle in the haystack, I would say that the trio "Stumble," "Imbusteros," and "Testify" could have been condensed into a single composition; but beyond this, the compactness, the renewed uniformity of the work remains in the ears, placing Calla on a decidedly higher level compared to 90% of the things New York offers and presents to us annually.
Highly recommended for dark souls, but not too much; for would-be post-industrial poets; for the young ladies and gentlemen, or even just for those who don't want to watch the world in silence and get lost in the relentless "Overshadowed".
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 It Dawned on Me (03:13)
As far as I know
Let it go
'cause it's never quite what it seems
You should know but you don't
'cause you dropped yourself to your knees
It dawned on me
See what I need to say please
And there's no one else there but me
You should know but you don't
As it slaps you upside the face
Now I see
I believe by the bruise that adorns your cheek
It dawned on me
02 Initiate (03:30)
It's too late to try and take it back now
String me up and hang me upside down
How long before my head hits the ground?
This ain't easy for me
It's further from the truth, it may seem
I lied because I want you to believe me
I know I've got it coming, wait and see
Tell me, that's not how it's supposed to be
It's the last time I'll be on my knees
That's not how it's supposed to be
So sad, yeah, I ain't got much to show
How long before they start throwing stones?
Watch me as I'm pelted to the bone
And make a song for me
03 This Better Go as Planned (03:58)
Did you mean it?
Did you mean that, maybe
Are you swearing that if all this goes as planned
You'll believe them
Do you swear it?
Do you swear that, maybe
Do you swear on your safety?
Do you promise that if all this goes as planned
You'll believe them
And so you simply swore the days have been reborn
And all that came before, you don't need it
For better or for worse, your word is like a curse
I'm burning in denial, so just leave it
So just leave it x2
Did you mean it? x2
Will you promise that if all this goes as planned
You'll believe them
And so you simply swore the days that came before are better than reborn
Don't believe it
You're burning in denial
No way to reconcile
This better go as planned and I mean it!
So just leave it x2
You don't need it x2
04 Play Dead (03:33)
Send your love as an inside joke x2
Say and send it
Playing dead just to keep my head x2
Don't get up, I can find my way x2
My own way out
All I know is you're moving too slow x3
It's all I know
All I know is you're moving too slow x3
It's all I know
I thought it, I said it
I thought you set me up
I thought it, I said it
I know you set me up
05 Pulverized (04:58)
gave you several reasons
You drowned in sympathy
I gave you room to breathe in
You held your trust in me
Just forget it, I'll regret it
Quote me on the first, 'cause the worst is to come
Don't believe it, you don't need it
Forget every word that I said that you heard
You gave me all the reason
To not pretend to need
I don't deserve this freedom
You handed off to me
Just forget it, I'll regret it
Quote me on the first, 'cause the worst is to come
Just admit it, you know you did it
Forget every word that I said that you heard
Just forget it, I'll regret it
Quote me on the first, 'cause the worst is to come
Just admit it, I know you did it
Forget every word that I said that you heard
Try and tell him something
That you don't believe you're gonna regret
06 So Far, So What (04:21)
"So what", she said
"It's a wonder why you're not dead"
So far, so what
I rejoice
In my dreams I can hear her voice
I'm awake instead
And the voices that I hear drew it in my head
It's all coming to a head
Tell me you win
It's safe for now, I'm in your hands
Tell me you win
It's all coming to a head
Tell me you win
It's safe for now, I'm in your hands
So far, so what?
"Shut up", she said
"You'll say something you might regret"
After all, we're the same
And there's nothing sweeter than when you're to blame
Just the same
So far, so what?
So what?
So what?
So far, for what?
So what?
So what?
So far, for what?
So what?
10 Swagger (03:38)
effective incentives
how dare you stand corrected
no motives, intentions
a single though to call your own
deceptive, defensive
don't look at me rejected
conclusions, delusions
look at you standing all alone
all alone, all alone, all alone
a passive aggressive
you didn't get the message
a second opinion
a word that turned into a crime
a massive offensive
you seem to me obsessive
your version diversion
so tell me something I dont know
all alone, all alone, all alone
effective incentives
how dare you stand corrected
a motive, intentions
beyond all reconginition
deceptive, defensive
dont look at me rejected
a passive aggressive, you didn't get the message
a massive offensive you seem to me obsessive
conclusions, delusions
look at you standing all alone
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