Calla Strength in Numbers Label: Beggars Banquet Release Date: 02/20/07

Calla gets more out of space and quietness than many bands get out of noise overload. This is not the pretentious, “this is tasteful and meaningful” silence some artists use to create an artificial sense of gravitas for undeveloped compositions. For one thing, Calla’s songs are certainly developed. There is a deliberateness in the sparse arrangements, where every element is carefully placed and ideally compliments the sound or lack thereof that surrounds it.

With all the negative space in Calla’s tracks that would usually be occupied by some more overdubs and fuzz, elements like a forlorn vocal or a guitar line can have much more impact when they do come in, and phases that perfectly express the mood of a song are not made to battle with distractions. “Strength in Numbers” is Calla’s fifth album, and they do take a few years to craft each one. By this point, the band has become comfortable and effective with traditional songwriting. Still, what really sets Calla apart are the impressions, feelings, and moods the music creates.

The austere texture and cinematic atmosphere are enticing, and this is an easy album to get drawn into. There is a good deal of distortion, treated sound, and fuzziness in the mix here. These devises are not used, however, in the loud, overwhelming way that is more common. A touch of distortion will brush against the vocal or a single instrument for a moment, enhancing the quivering emotion. As an instrument dominates part of a song in isolation, often there will be other elements, voices, music and noise buried beneath it in the mix, approaching and receding, half heard as if in the far distance. Electronic percolations sneak in here and there, almost undetectable on first listen. The distortion is all used judiciously, not always making sounds bigger, but different and better.

When all of these elements, so subtly introduced and established, finally build to crescendos, on songs like “Defenses Down” and “Malicious Manner” and the complexity and volume of more standard rock music, it is beautiful and affecting. The sounds seem to have more meaning and intimacy than they would have had the song started full steam. Shorter songs such as “Stand Paralyzed” or the instrumental “Malo” seem to perfectly sustain a particular mood or emotional moment. Songs such as “Sleep in Splendor” and “A Sure Shot” seem to achieve both of these, creating a mesmerizing space unto themselves. “Strength in Numbers” certainly upholds Calla’s standing as one of the more underheard and quality controlled bands working, and should not disappoint appreciators of moody, finely textured rock.

Calla - Bronson

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 27th, 2007 at 4:57 pm and is filed under CD/LP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.