(02.04.07) Continuing with Scottish label Benbecula’s ongoing monthly series of albums from local and established artists is The Bright Spot by Calika,
otherwise known as Brighton-based Simon Kealoha. Besides his work as Calika, Kealoha also records with Mark Clifford (a.k.a. Disjecta) on Polyfusia Records and they are joined by ex-Boredoms drummer Eda to form the group CEK. Kealoha originally sent his demo to both Audiobulb and Benbecula but Audiobulb were the label that picked it up, releasing a compilation track under the name Calika followed by his debut album Small Talk Kills Me in 2005. Although Kealoha’s main output is retained by Audiobulb, Benbecula have since picked up his second album for release as part of their Minerals Series.
Packaged in a simple generic Benbecula slipcase with an equally nondescript black and white information sticker, the packaging gives no indication of what to expect from the contents of the CD. Combining a whole range of sounds from both digital and traditional instruments, Kealoha creates an intricate mix of everything from abstract breaks to acoustic guitar strumming and orchestral passages. Everything is very experimental with what would at first appear to be disparate elements juggling for position and, while that is generally an accurate description of his work, Kealoha is able to somehow integrate these sources with some success. The album opener “Enriched by Sea Minerals” has everything from unstructured glitchy beat abstraction to a brief but doleful orchestral interlude – something that is repeated in short bursts throughout – but for all its random qualities it actually works very well. In contrast, “It’s a Cosy World” and “Max and Louie” are vocal tracks, the former a gentle and thoughtful track based on piano and processed guitar with the occasional digital glitch fighting for attention and the latter a more beat-based excursion with vocals lower in the mix, the beat and percussion being the main focus in this instance. The downbeat theme is continued into “Sometimes I Feel I’m Not Quite Here” with its rhythmic scrapes, droning atmosphere and subdued mood eventually giving way to some indie-folk vocals. “You Little Brute” picks up on the acoustic guitar idea, adding some vibrating bass and hissy percussion to what becomes a quite catchy rhythm complete with a pause for breath. The same buzzing bass effect is used in “Four Dummies (Live Version)” but this time allied with strange little melodies that are replaced by slow grinding electric guitar. “Of Places with 6 Floors” returns to the tinny glitch weirdness of earlier in the album, complete with funky abstract guitar. Perhaps fittingly, the album closes with the low bassy distorted drone and now obligatory acoustic guitar meanderings of “Salt Mists (Edit).”
The Bright Spot is an experimental album with plenty of variance, focussed generally around acoustic guitar and digital rhythms and effects. The whole thing is generally quite random in nature with all sorts of strange digital sounds sitting alongside more traditional instruments and vocals, often making the end result unusual but oddly coherent at the same time. It is almost as though Kealoha finds structure in the chaos.
The Bright Spot is out now on Benbecula.
