Calla "Collisions" (Beggars Banquet)
By Peter A. Holden
Monday. Sep 26, 12:23 AM
Power and enormity locked into the soft and quiet.

(read an interview with guitarist/vocalist Aurelio Valle here)

Rarely do I expect much from a band. In fact, I almost never expect a band to be consistently better than their previous endeavors. Sometimes, an artist just never exceeds a certain level of quality. But once in a while, bands that are really seeped in potential, continue to utilize that potentiality at every step, slowly but surely. Seemingly on a never-ending path toward greatness and quality that you just can’t stop, Calla are one of those bands. From the outset, they have created incredibly unique and poignant music that only gets better and better with every record. Collisions is just another shining example of Calla’s natural rising potential.

Soothing and incredibly melodic, Collisions continues to push the “brooding” character of Calla to new levels. Although the record is in many ways much more uplifting than previous albums, the loungey, dark feel of Calla’s aura maintains its vibrancy. What is most impressive about Collisions is the fact that Calla have matured and nurtured what they are best at: creating memorable moments that you simply can’t deny. Within their brilliant simplicity lies the secret to intelligent songwriting. Far too often people overlook the beauty that stems from creating one gentle and effortless musical phrase. But Calla are the lords of this land. They’ve mastered the craft of the smart hook without cashing in on any clichés. And every move and twitch of Collisions is natural and free flowing. Not a single mis-intention, it seems.

The power and enormity locked into such a soft and quiet band is Calla’s calling card. They seem to rage with the power of dreaminess stuffed in a blender. They are at one minute quiescent; their fragile voiced leader taking them in one direction softly and seemingly hesitantly. The next minute they are on a dirge that swells with the power of a full symphony. “Overshadowed” is a testament to incredibly diverse songwriting. But they are no strangers to a good solid rock from the get-go. “It Dawned On Me” and “Swagger” pound their way into your soul with just the right amount of head bobbing that borders on head-banging. Calla achieve with Collisions what many cannot hope to achieve in a musical experience: density and variety that never conflict.

Watching Calla’s development over the years has been a bit like watching a skyscraper go up. Each day and each step brings more impressive achievements. When they tour the country behind Collisions, I hope I can get a front row seat. Personally, I hope they tour the world. These boys have definitely worked and earned it. And the music speaks for itself.
www.callamusic.com
www.beggars.com

Peter A. Holden

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