| Clue to Kalo is the electronic, synthetic-organic composition masterminded by Mark Mitchell, who himself hails from Australia. The fifth album (third record label) release from the musician shines as a powerful contribution to the electronic, folk, experimental genre which has an ever growing base of sounds. While live performances by CTK include an ensemble of performers, the studio disc was created between Mitchell and his laptop, creating an enjoyable and organic sound. The disc opens with the short intro track “The Younger, The Old,” a sampling of what's to come on the balance of the disc. The multi-layered, almost discordant sounds juxtaposed with Mitchell's vocal whisper create an intriguing electro folk sound. The disc seamlessly gets under way with the harmonious “Seconds When It's Minutes,” a track that can put spring into any step. “Come to Mean a Natural Law” and “As Tommy Fixes Fights” are two unique tracks which start off one way, then take you through a progression of sounds that leaves you far away from where you began and with an wonderfully developed track composition. The disc continues with melodious tracks that are so rich with sound, only the best speakers will truly do them justice. While the music flutters between mellow, down tempo and incongruous electro-folk, Mitchell's voice remains consistent, being the single factor in the disc that borders on monotonous. With each track offering up a distinct and enriching array of musical elements and even spiritually probing lyrics, the album begins to sway towards monotone only as Mitchell's voice remains consistently whispered, inaudible, and drowned out. A functional element at moments, this vocal tracking decision detracts from what would be otherwise perfect instrumental pieces or even stronger vocal tracks. Beyond the momentary lapse into repetition, CTK's disc offers some excellent sounds for the listener. Tracks that contain layer upon layer of synthesized electronic audio, that somehow still feel organic enough to be folk, make the album shine and bring CTK into a new direction worth following. - Kevchino |
1XLP/Out Of Print