Califone – All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

Chicago based Califone get their moniker from a manufacturer of audio equipment. They are an experimental band of musicians headed by main man Tim Rutili (formerly of band Red Red Meat). Quite a prolific band and their experimental nature is apparent with an off beat slow electro jazz workout on album opener 'Giving Away The Bride'. They remind me of the more recent, less hip hop orientated stylings of Beck.They are an interesting band as they play with a variety of styles; there is a very strong Americana country rock feel, but with elements of ambient electro and noise as well as Jazz. '1928' is slightly more lo-fi space country in a similar vein to Yo La Tengo. Rutillis voice has a lot of character and gives the songs that small town Americana atmosphere, despite them being from the metropolis that is Chicago. The title track (or part title track) is straight forward three chord country song, which again is quite brilliant in itself.The band began working mainly writing instrumental music for soundtracks in the early 00’s (look into the deceleration series 1 and 2), interestingly enough this album is accompanied by a feature film in which will also have a separate soundtrack. The film, of the same name, was written and directed by Rutilli and is about a psychic woman who lives alone in the woods and is haunted by trapped ghosts. More often than not it seems they like to delve into the unconscious and supernatural spaces as a muze for their records. They still remain very stripped down in their use of electronics, it all contributes to a very natural sound. Nothing is over extrapolated.Between their experimentalism and the more straight forward side of Califone they have the ability to mix it up but keep it cohesive and enjoyable. A song like Krill has all the hallmarks of a classic heartbreaking country song, fabulous simple eerie guitar back line gives that ache of melancholy. I don’t know about you but those kind of songs are stonewall brilliant in any mans heart. The you’ll have something completely obtuse to that with the decidedly odd interludes that crop up such as the aptly surreal 'A Wish Made While Burning Onions Will Come True', and the quite marvelously titled 'Snake Tooth = Protection Against Fever' and 'Luck In Gambling'.What is very obvious now is that Califone have their very own unique take on very American styles of music. Elements of blues, country and folk all interspersed with sparse electronics and atmosphere. They take these very traditional styles and make something slightly off keel with them, such as fluttering a little calypso steel drum amongst the album finale 'Better Angels', one of the best tracks on the album, ambient country finesse. The little extra ideas that Califone express in their music make them special and the only sensible things for you good people to do is go out and get this record.

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