Califone

AMG Review of Califone

Nathan Bush
All Music Guide

On this self-titled EP, Califone's Tim Rutili and Tim Hurley immerse themselves deeply in song texture. Everything is approached with a great attention to detail; the duo's working of production and arranging techniques into the songs actually adds dimensions to them (rather than being merely burdensome). In fact, at times the lyrics are in danger of getting lost, delivered as they are in a near-unintelligible style, like a man singing to himself. Rather than having the music act as a vehicle for a lyric, the songs' vocals serve a textural effect more than anything else. Califone starts characteristically, with "On the Steeple With the Shakes (X-mas Tigers)." A repeated guitar figure is laid over lazy, shuffling beats that absentmindedly change shape before your ears. A smattering of high, spacious piano notes tinkle in the background. The singer mumbles something about...well, Christmas tigers and being left on the steeple. "Silvermine Pictures" is a slice of 1960s acoustic folk. It sounds truly authentic, but warped. "To Hush a Sick Transmission" is comprised of Tom Waits-style, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink, primitive drum clatter. The song sounds like it belongs to no time, genre, or country. The same thing can be said for much of the material here. Califone creates something like ambient rip-hop folk (or how about postmodern indie world music?). The collection closes with the 17-minute anti-anthem "Down Eisenhower Sun Up With Mule." Fitting the mold at first, by six minutes the song has disintegrated into a pointless drift of sound that's about as compelling as listening to a broken amp breath. Thankfully, by saving it for last, Califone takes nothing away from the music that precedes it. "Down Eisenhower" also shows that, while Hurley and Rutili may have established new and compelling environments for their songs, they aren't at all afraid of taking them too far in the process.