Calva Louise, POPURRÍ
Self-release
The EP – that musical enigma, the release that can be anything from a 7-song mini-album to a single and a b-side. EPs are microcosms of artists’ identity, and on their upcoming one, Calva Louise are making an absolute mission statement of who they are: sitting at three tracks long, POPURRí is nothing short of explosive. Calva Louise shake up every side of their sound to make a riot in technicolour that’s as addictive as it is exciting – you’ll be itching to press repeat the moment it’s over.
It might be a necessity to hear POPURRÍ over and over again, but that doesn’t mean it’s anything but satisfying. The most striking aspect of it, that’s drilled in relentlessly over the EP’s modest runtime, is the vivid confidence of it. Vocalist and frontwoman Jess Allanic is one of the sweetest people in punk (see her magnetic performance at RIFFFEST for her loveliness in action), but you wouldn’t know it listening to POPURRÍ. Set above grinding electro-punk instrumentals, her delivery is attitude-laden, compelling, and massive. Even on three tracks, her range shines – the hissing, haunting opener Camino, the otherworldly Charli XCX-adjacent heavy-pop of I Wish, and the fiercely incendiary intensity of POP(urrí) illustrate Allanic’s diamond-like arsenal of musical facets as she flickers between English, Spanish, vicious, charming, punk, pop… and never falters for a second.
Never ones to let themselves be defined, Calva Louise have crushed the guitar-led mould of their debut album Rhinoceros. Where once there was a riff, now there’s a Milky Way of electro-beats, reverberating synth, irresistible dance vibes. The EP’s title, POPURRÍ, comes through on the promise that Calva Louise are branching into pop. Ironically, POP(urrí) is the least poppy moment on the EP; as a precursor to I Wish, it promises that Calva Louise are still as ablaze as they always have been. In fact, they’re scorching hotter than ever before. Opener Camino hinted at the unforgiving raucousness that Calva Louise are capable of, but here it comes to full fruition.
As the EP draws to a close, Calva Louise really kick down the door of expectations. I Wish is radio-ready gold, but don’t be fooled, this is no cookie-cutter pop tune. The intro, for those who have dipped their toes into emo, will instantly call to mind My Chemical Romance’s Planetary (Go!), a universally acknowledged glittering banger of a song. And that’s exactly what I Wish is too, a dreamy ball of energy that’s as effervescent as it is exciting. The melody lines might be infectious pop to the core, but the synths are just fiery enough to make sure we’re still envisioning mosh-pits. It’s a painstaking ending – we need more! But it’s the highest of high notes too, and a guarantee that Calva Louise have never been more electrifying, and never been better at what(ever) they do.
POPURRÍ is out this Friday, July 31st.
