Search - Calla :: Collisions

Beautiful pop noise with a morricone flair

bobaloo | new york city | 10/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"a spaghetti-westernish guitar wends through a maelstrom of

noise that emerges from lovely dark pop songs--like the ones

the Dandy Warhols used to write, the black watch and yo la tengo

have always written. "it dawned on me" insinuates--by the second time you spin this disc, you'll be in love. not a bad song on it!"

Collsisions review

Michael Simmons | SC United States | 11/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really like Calla. I have liked them since I first stumbled upon their Scavengers CD in 2001. Then I found their self titled first release on Sub Rosa records (with in a month of hearing Scavengers). Their music was a rock answer to spaghetti western soundtracks by Ennio Morricone. A dark post modern alternative rock country band with electronic noise is the closest to the genre Calla fits in. It was very quit through out most of the music but, the music was still able to have a physical presence in the room when you played it. Their music was marked with was dark and atmospheric bass droning on with a slow heavy drum beat similar to drone metal but, faster. The lyrics were whispered in a smoky haze of noise and got lost with in the music. The guitars went from muted to over powering while having great western tones while sneaking in melodies. The guitars or electronic noise would burst through at places with dissonance that you thought would tear the song apart at first but stayed with the feeling and rhythm of the song. Their sound has steadily changed with each of their previous three albums. Their fourth album Collisions follows this trend even more. I almost wanted to sing a dirge about the lost of their sound that I like so much, but this album was too good to allow me to be that upset over the change. It is almost completely different in sound from their first two albums but, still keeps a similar spirit. At times Collisions can be eerily reminiscent of Calla's earlier albums.

Four albums with four record labels Calla is certainly continuously on the move both contractually and musically. They even replaced a band member on this album. On Collisions Calla did what Low did on their last album; they made everything faster, louder, and more melodic. Calla shed most of their earlier avant garde soundscapws on this album. The songs are rockier and more melodic then anything they have done before. The electronic flourishes have been strongly corralled in and quieted. They just float through a few songs in the background. The base lines are no longer slow and over powering-they have taken on an almost dance quality. The guitar is much cleaner sounding and a have a much larger part through out the songs. Aurelio Valle's lyrics have stayed in familiar territory with the subject matter of each song. The big change is that his crooning and whispering of the lyrics no longer fades in and out of the music; his voice is loud and he even really starts to sing on a couple songs. The drums have more then doubled their earlier tempo. Almost all the songs have a good 90's alternative rock feel to them now. This album was produced and mixed by people who have worked with Nick Cave and PJ Harvey and it really shows on this album. The over all sound is much similar to a lot of Nick Cave while, the bass lines sound a lot some of PJ Harvey songs.

I give it a strong 7 out of 10.



1. It Dawned on Me is rocky like 90's alt. rock.

2. Initiate is one of the songs closest to their earlier sound.

3. This Better Go As Planned is very catchy melodic rock. I love the bass and drum parts.

4. Play Dead is also a nice rock sound.

5. Pulvarized has a dance bass line not as bad as all the gang of four rip off bands through. It also has the strongest electronic sound.

6. So Far, So What is a nice medium tempo rock song.

7. Stumble has the same build up as their older songs but, this doesn't copy over as well with their new sound.

8. Imbusteros is a short soundscape.

9. Testify is one of the most alternative rock sounding songs on this album.

10. Swagger is also very similar to their earlier sound only faster and with more rock. This one mixed their old and new song elements together well.

11. Overshadowed is a slower song that I really enjoyed."

Solid CD from a solid band.

Hugh Lloyd | Oregon, USA | 03/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've liked Calla ever since I first listened to 'em a few years ago, and didn't even know this CD came out until... last week. Very impressive everything, as usual. The vocals are amazing, the musicianship is interesting, and the lyrics that I actually understand are good.



This Better Go As Planned and Swagger are the best songs (in my opinion), though the opening track is fairly good as well. Goooooood stuff."