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review by Michael Woodhead In the current issue of Synchronicity magazine, I reviewed Calvin's Seconds, and suggested that he impressed me as a subtler, and smoother version of Craig Chaquico. I still believe that, but on Club Tiaj, he offers a more eclectic approach to music, and calls it an 'electronic journey through an ambient village'. Indeed, it is just that - marvelous manipulations of musical instruments, electronic sounds, and rhythms. "Starfire Dancer" begins what seems to be a regular melodic line of guitar work, but soon segues into a cosmic interplay of repeating riffs echoed from shimmering curtains of space and time. "Tribe" is aptly named for this beat-driven, ambient electronic work that brings to mind cybernetic aboriginals dancing to throbbing tom-toms around some mystic campfire in a world of the future. Following several other electronic works, "Boost" begins a special dance mix that Calvin suggests using with two other selections, "Sleek" and "King Diddy," each with its own introductory bars. "Slither" offers what I would call an approach to the movements of an electronic snake through a computer hardware jungle, certainly unique to say the least, and the creature brings us again to the cybernetic tom-toms of "Skins." I love listening to drum solos and, although this piece doesn't utilize a fully-equipped drum kit, nonetheless, I certainly enjoyed the pulsations presented here. These are just some of the selections available of the thirteen compositions Calvin has set down for the listener's enjoyment. In some of them, I think the prominent drumbeats are a little distracting, but that's just a personal observation; I'm more melody-oriented rather than rhythmically inclined, but I don't let that cloud my judgement of a piece of music. Overall, however, Calvin has done a masterful job at creating some excitingly different, diffused, and electronically based musical compositions. My favourite track: "Starfire Dancer" CD Length: 47:47 minutes |
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