| Australian Mark Mitchell, otherwise known as Clue to Kalo, writes songs. That might not seem so shocking, a songwriter writing songs, but in this day and age it seems like singer/songwriters are more concerned with an image than actual songs. Being lumped in with a hot trend is a better marketing plan than writing something original and unique. But that doesn't seem to be the mindset of Mitchell. For starters, he took more than two years to create his second record, One Way, It's Every Way. I mean, who takes time anymore? But that's only the start of the differences between Mitchell and the current songwriter bunch. Instead of relying on what everyone else is doing, he has made some middle ground between the camps of lo-fi and hi-fi just for his own. Taking bits from the lo-fi world of songwriting and using subtle computer manipulation, he blends the two worlds together to create some very interesting songs. It's not quite as lo-fi and original as Konnor, but Clue to Kalo could possibly be considered an older, more refined cousin to the young cult favorite. But calling this less original than Konnor doesn't take away from the fact that Mitchell has created a very solid ten-song effort. Everything from Beach Boy's pop to Pedro glitchy-ness can be found in Mitchell's work. It's a warm patchwork of styles, but held together by his attention to detail and his ability to create a strong atmosphere around each track. Another factor in the cohesiveness is Mitchell's soothing voice. He has a quality to his voice that lulls you and comforts you without sounding disinterested or boring. It certainly fits with the 'lazy day' feeling the entire album produces. You just want to sit back and stare out a window, sucking in each song while half of your mind is working out some problem. It may seem like an odd album to be released on Mush, but it wonderfully fits in its own special place. It's a songwriter's album with smart phrasing, intelligent textures, and comforting contours. This album will probably float under the radar, but that doesn't mean it doesn't deserve strong consideration from the discerning music fan. If you like songs, you'll probably love this. - Indie Workshop |
1XLP/Out Of Print