Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, four piece Calling For Eden is preaching a message of unity and togetherness. Comprised primarily of Casey King (lead vocals, guitar), Zach Braidwood (backing vocals, bass), Cliff Hurd (keys, synthesizers), and Chuck Mallory (saxaphone, trombone), and featuring a revolving lineup of additional brass players and percussionists at live performances, Calling For Eden is well on their way to carving out a distinctive niche in the alt-rock space of the competitive DFW music scene.
The band’s most recent release is their sophomore effort The Message Is Clear. Preceeded by their debut album Waiting for Something, this new album sees Calling For Eden continue on their course as a bold, dynamic, high-octane group.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
Opening the album is the intense and powerful track Together Alone. It sets the tone for much of the project, highlighting King’s rich, husky voice, featuring impeccable saxaphone riffs, and emphasizing catchy, accessible melodic writing. The keys in this track work their magic in the second half, adding refreshing depth and texture.
Back to the Beat is an unquestionably fun and funky number, the band’s brass skills on full display. There’s a definitive modern rock foundation to this track, with its heavy electric guitars and hard-hitting percussion working seamlessly against the intricacies of the saxaphone – and speaking of, the sax solo at 1:45 on this one is a showstopper and a must-listen.
We’re given a taste of the tropics with Floreeda. In the alternative rock space, songwriting and lyricism are often put on the backburner, and the spotlight is put on the instrumentation. And while it’s clear that Calling For Eden has a solid handle on explosive, expressive rock arrangements from both the performance and production side of things, Floreeda is a track that highlights the storytelling skills of the group. It’s easy to imagine yourself on a warm, sandy beach with a drink in your hand:
“I had an old man tell me what he thought I should do
He said to quit my 9 to 5 and grab my six string and move
To the beach and write some tunes, on my front porch swing.
Got nothing to lose I’ll scuba dive in the blue, do some deep sea fishing and I’ll cook up some food.“
We also love Learn to Love Again for its acoustic focus – a change of direction for the band on this album, but a coehesive and welcome addition. It’s a slow burn – an intentional and measured build to a swampy, almost southern-rock tinged number, though King’s powerhouse voice keeps us firmly grounded in the rock side of things in this track.
OUR FAVORITE TRACK…
The softer side of the band is on display with Beautiful Lady. Here, the saxaphone brings a romantic, jazzy flair – stronger than in many of the other tracks. King’s vocals are restained at the start, and build in intensity in parallel with the rest of the track’s instrumentation. What starts as a somber ballad alone grows into something with more of an anthemic, pop-rock sound, complete with octave doubling of the lead vocal and driving guitars. This is only one of the band’s many tracks that showcases their artistic range; they’re fully capable of extending outside the main lane of expectation in their chosen genre.
IN CONCLUSION…
High energy, resonant, memorable music that is rooted in rock sounds but forges without fear into nearby genres and tones. There is so much to like about this most recent album from Calling For Eden. This is a diverse showing of great songwriting skills and performance – and with heavy emphasis on their extremely successful melody writing abilities. For fans of memorable hooks, a high level of musicality and coehesivness, and a reglular saxophone showcase in a genre that too often overlooks the value of a well-placed brass riff, The Message Is Clear is for you.
—-
BELOW: Listen to The Message Is Clear and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Calling for Eden by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
(Want to have your music reviewed on The Ark of Music? Click HERE.)
Follow, stream, download & connect with CALLING FOR EDEN online:
