Some things are epic in the most intimate way.
You know?
Like a Wellington booted kick of leaves on a windy autumn day, or a cat cautiously clawing at a dead spider or catching a sunset reflected in a bottle of cold beer in summer.
Those little moments that feel so close and personal but somehow speak of a vastness and size so awesome you have to check you’re alive with sharp inward breath or a furtive flash of a grin at a nearby friend.
Moments that make you think of playing when you were a child, when an old box on an attic floor would become a pirate ship at sea or your granddads’ rain hat held the power to make you the king of some far off land.
As we get older we lose some powers and gain others but some people keep that kiddie wildness and wonder but are able to reign it in with the discipline and control that comes with being an adult.
Some people get given that gift and they set off adventuring in music and it sounds like vibrant coloured threads which go from being purposefully listless and dangling when necessary then pulled so tight together by stop of a beat or a change in melody your left wondering at the space between moments.
Only for a second.
Before the threads get blown apart again and your head reels and rolls with fright at the sound of it but somehow your heart feels reassured.
Like when a light turns on in a dark room.
-Ben Brooks-
Reviews
“Frustrations surface, demons exorcised: while Calories are a new band on their first album, there?s experience here that goes far deeper than a ten-track indie-rock debut.”
"a collection of well-crafted,multi-facted songs that owe a great deal to the works of 'Speedo' John Reis and his San Diegan Hot Snakes. Throw in some good old British post-hardcore to the mix, plus an undercurrent reminiscent of a 'Green'-era REM and what you have is a full-fat (excuse the pun), guilt-free musical experience. Let the adventure begin."
"truly stirring indie-rock that’s got plenty in common with the straighter-faced bands on Dischord’s roster, with plenty of gang vocal sing-along parts and hooks large enough to hang a Great White on. John Biggs, Pete Dixon and Tom Whitfield craft the sort of rock that seems so very simple and effortless on first inspection, but a few times around its evident that this takes skill, technique and years of practise. Or, dumb luck."
"This album is so addictive that you’ll want to abstain from listening to it for fear of wearing it out. Oh, knackers to it - buy yourself ten copies as you’ll never tire of hearing the melodic beauty of ‘A Bear A Bison’ nor the monumental ‘Drugged’. ‘Adventuring’ is quite simply joyous and with a little luck and justice, it could be an underground smash of 2009."
"It seems Calories arenot about a show of brute strength and power or simply dazzling thelistener, it's all about sharing and exchange in all sincerity andwithout any pretention. I think we can all agree that this newregime is a very promising start for the band."
OR
"Désormais, avec Calories, on n’est plus dans la démonstration de force ni la tentative d’éblouissement de l’auditeur mais dans le partage et l’échange, en toute sincérité et sans aucune prétention. Un régime qui nous convient tout à fait et une nouvelle chrysalide très prometteuse pour le combo."
"Brevity: Birmingham, England-based power trio Calories has it. The act's music is so tightly compacted that even the verses play like choruses, and its entire debut set Adventuring is done almost as soon as it begins. On Adventuring, due March 9, Calories delivers a brisk, exuberant collection of 10 tunes that clocks in at a breathless 23 minutes. All the songs are singalong-able, everything is anthemic and everything rocks."
"At only 23 minutes long, this album is Calories' self professed "punk album", but it truly is 23 minutes that you'll be listening to again and again; no song outstays it's welcome, and things are kept sounding fresh throughout."
Somehow Calories have tapped into that part of the brain that triggers the part that finds songs so deliciously infective. Through rigorous testing, they’ve narrowed down 10 tracks that stimulate that area the most and released them as ‘Adventuring.’ Is this gushing praise? Yeah probably, but this is such a bloody brilliant collection of songs it’s hard not to get excited about it.
‘Adventuring’ is a album that deserves its place in your record collection for years and years. It leaves you wanting more, much more. Calories push you over, throw you up and leave you hanging. But for once, you don’t mind it at all.
Nature.
Hot Snakes.
Deerhoof.
Shudder To Think.
Faraquet.
Rob Crow.
The Van Pelt.
Liars.
Other Men.
Early R.E.M.
Jim O Rourke.
Blonde Redhead.
John Carpenter.
The Fall.
Animal Collective.
Loose Fur.
Medications.
Polvo.
Les Savy Fav.
Don Caballero.
The Shins.
immature
mucs
To mark the triumphant return of JOHNNY FOREIGNER to Birmingham’s fair shores when they play the Yardbird with local legends SUNSET CINEMA CLUB and DISTOPHIA’s new incarnation CALORIES on OTOBER 8th, ROBOT VS DINOSAUR in conjunction with BOOST will be hosting the official AFTERSHOW PARTY at BUSK!
Very happy! SHH will be playing again (again...) at 229, 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN. (opposite Great Portland Street tube) Thursday, 30th April 2009 at 9. 00pm! Email me for the cheapest guestlist!
I WISH I KNEW | UK-TOUR the new indie-wave from Holland
30.04 - LONDON - Fox & Firkin 01.05 - LEIGH-ON-SEA - The Ship 02.05 - OXFORD - Folly Bridge Inn 03.05 - SWANSEA - Extreme Overload II 05.05 - MANCHESTER - Oliver's Bar 06.05 - MANSFIELD - Black Market Venue 07.05 - NOTTINGHAM - The Sal 08.05 - BIRMINGHAM - Island Bar See you on tour!
