| What is it about
European men that makes them so much more romantic and capable of expressing
themselves while still maintaining their innate coolness than Canadian
men? I’m not sure what it is but if you put one of each in front
of me on any given occasion, eight times out of ten I’d pick the European.
There is also something profoundly unique about the singer/songwriter from
the Celtic world because he comes from an ancient history of storytellers
and artists; a culture defined by family, community and love. So
it must reason that the members of Cal, one from Belfast, Northern Ireland,
one from London, England and one from Hungary were born to their ability
to marry a gorgeous melody with a candid, genuine lyric. The problem
with having to review an EP that is this good is that it leaves me wanting
more in a way not dissimilar to having to say goodbye to a lover that rocked
my world.
The current members
of Cal – a nickname given to Colin while he studied at the Royal Scottish
Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow - are Colin McMurray on vocals &
guitar, Mike Patton (who used to play with the UK band “Parker”) on drums
and Henrik Favari on bass. Considering the fact that these three
men have only been playing together as a band since January of this year
and are as good as they are leave me to believe that they deserve to be
every bit as successful as their friends Iain Archer and Johnny Quinn with
their stellar band, Snow Patrol. Cal’s May 6th gig at the Wilmington
in London followed immediately by a May 7th show at the Rock Garden venue
in Covent Garden should set the public’s tongues a-wagging. I’m sorry
I can’t be there to lead the buzz. The problem with discovering a
great new UK band is that they take a while to get to Canada.
However, as it turns
out Colin played with different musicians while recording this indie EP
in 2003. John McCullough tinkled the ivories beautifully and also
contributed Hammond organ, Wulitzer & Rhodes while Paul Fleming played
bass and Mark Beatty, drums. This gifted quartet, to my ears, sounds
like Simply Red meets The Beautiful South bubbling in an awesome melting
pot of music and melody. Colin’s unruly red curls remind me and others
of Mick Hucknall, it’s true, but it’s the piano in “Standing in Shadows“,
which grabbed my attention immediately. I hope that the current Cal
will consider adding keyboards to their line-up because I think they would
lose some of their magic without them.
The three songs on
“Standing in Shadows” including the title track are songs about Cal’s journey
towards musical and personal success, filled with struggle but ultimately
hopeful. His acoustic guitar playing is strong and confident and
vocally Colin’s a pleasure to the ears. My favourite track is “The
Moment You Know” although I really liked the psychedelic intro to “Nothing
Special” and the atmospheric Manzarek-like organ in it too. Colin
also produced a solo EP called “Hanging Around” in 1997 with Iain Archer
on bass and electric guitar, Beth Brown on violin and Johnny Quinn on drums.
I know he took some time out to have a family with his wife Julie, but
I hope that Colin and the other members of Cal are ready to devote a good
part of themselves to their music because if they do, there’s no telling
what heights they could scale.
Please stop by www.cal-music.co.uk
or www.myspace.com/colinmcmurray
to listen to some great songs by a band you haven’t heard the last of.
Christine Bode
c.bode@partyinkingston.com |
