Calva Louise
The youtube algorithm rarely blesses me with anything I care about, and for that reason, I don't generally click on music videos or go looking (lately it's been all Nascar Rock and electronica that sounds like it should be back in the 80s - I don't care much for nostaglia anymore; if I want it, I can get it by listening to old stuff.) But this time, I guess it did work out. It worked out once before with Poppy, about a month ago...she does deserve an honorable mention. I bought Poppy's album (Flux) and I bought this one (Calva Louise - Over the Threshold) within a day of first hearing them.
Calva Louise is a multi-national band - the songwriter, singer, keyboardist and guitarist (Jess Allanic) is Venezuelan born and lives in the UK now (age 29.) Ben Parker is on drums and backing vocals, while Alizon Taho is on bass and backing vocals. Over the Threshold was produced by Massimo Pezzetta, an italian EDM producer.
Most of the songs are in English (only one song - Third Class Citizen - features a British accent of any note) - and a couple are in or contain Spanish, which is awesome (I'm a big fan of lyrics I can't understand, because when I can understand them, I'm generally not a fan of what I'm hearing.) At least one, Con Corazon, also has some traditional spanish melody design; the progression and guitar tone reminds me immensely of System of a Down, who were hugely popular in my youth.
The entire album has a sound that, to me, sounds like it's at least a couple decades ahead of everyone else. Music of this calibre (sub 1m listens on youtube) rarely achieves this level of perfection - actually, with a handful of electronic artist exceptions, I don't think I've ever heard any do it. This sounds better produced than the vast majority of the music in my library; but it is an indie band with an indie label.
There's immense talent in these three. I'm not sure it was showcased in their previous stuff (it doesn't sound nearly as good or well polished to my ears) but they've hit on something here - probably with some outside label help, although that is merely conjecture - that is both futuristic, different and wholly well done. The entire album is listenable start to finish.
If you can only listen to a few songs, I'd recommend Feast is Over, Con Corazon, Square One, Human Becoming and Over the Threshold - but this feels, at least to me, like a real album, that is intended to be listened start to finish. Give it a try. You won't be dissapointed if you can tolerate metal and electronic influences with pop hooks. It is heavy - some of it comes close to Mick Gordon's DOOM soundtrack in heaviness - but there's a lot of emotional content.
Lots of love to these three and the producer; I hope they go far and are able to further their respective arts.