Calling Cadence
Hi-res, 2022
8/10
An outfit spearheaded by Oscar Bugarin and Rae Cole, as Calling Cadence the pair blend their voices, vintage keyboards, strong guitar work, and no shortage of adventurous percussion into an analog friendly, retro affair that flirts with rock, soul and pop in atypical ways.
“Throw My Body” gets the listen off to a classic rock fueled start, where a breezy quality is met with some well timed electronic tinkering and a spirited harmonica solo, and “Good Day” follows with some playful buzzing amid soulful ideas that are very much indebted to the ‘70s.
Approaching the middle, “Took A Chance” is an intimate and powerful display of harmonizing vocals, charming keys and a hint of country sounds, while “This Time” picks up the pace with smooth and melodic nostalgic rock that flows with a punchy, yet dreamy quality.
Closer to the end, “Enough” offers a gorgeous and precisely layered album highlight that also can get bare, and “Wasn’t It Good” exits the listen with both and grit and tunefulness entering the firmly strummed and agile keys of the soaring finish.
Also appearing on the record are Josh Adams (drums), Mitchell Yoshida (keys) and Elijah Thomson (bass), and together under Bugarin and Rae’s vision they make for a swirling, layered and very unique brand of hybrid folk-rock.
Travels well with: Teddy Grossman- Soon Come; Mackin Carroll- Learning How To Swim