Calla - Televise

Calla move slowly. Their latest album, Televise, clocks in at a mere 46 minutes, but it feels a whole lot longer than that, which is good. These songs progress slowly, they build slowly, they make you want to listen closely, following them through slow crescendos and hanging on to vocalist Aurelio Valle's slow, slurred vocals. Don't get me wrong, my overuse of the word "slow" here isn't meant to imply that the album's pace is glacial or boring, just kind of dark. Yes, this stuff is depressing, but it's also sexy. There is a very alluring quality to Valle's drawl and jangling guitars and it's complemented superbly by smooth basslines and atmospheric sounds. The drums and other percussion are often more subtle than anything else, but they're pronounced when they need to be. Indeed, Calla are a finely honed machine and it's hard to believe that there are only 3 members behind the controls. "Customized" and "As Quick As It Comes/Carrera" rival Mogwai's thunderous climaxes in their building finales. But let's get back to the slow stuff, because that's where this album really shines. I'm not sure I can decipher more than a dozen words in either "Monument" or "Don't Hold Your Breath", but both of them draw me in -- the instinct to turn up the volume, close my eyes and nod my head to the beat is irresistable. As the album progresses, the dark vibe continues with superb tracks like "Monument" and "Astral" before it comes to a head in the previously mentioned "Quick As It Comes/Carrera". The soundscape interlude "Alacran" follows and then, surprisingly, the upbeat "Televised". It's an oddly positive moment and provides a nice break from the somber mood of the album. Until, of course, "Surface Scratch", the album's finale, which throws you back into the album's depths. It's the gloomiest song on the album, but it's also comforting in a way. "Don't ever look back, don't ever turn back," it pleads, but "don't forget to come back." I can't help coming back to this album. [www.callamusic.com]