Call To Mind emerged out of Inverness, in the Highlands of Scotland, in the summer of 2005, gaining cult status with fans and bands alike, through a feverant word of mouth following.
With the release of their debut EP at the start of 2006, critics hailed Call To Mind as being rich in texture and flawless in rhythm, with comparisons to the likes of Elbow, Radiohead and Mogwai to name but a few. A recent review suggests, "There’s a little bit of Doves in there, a bit of Sigur Ros, but ultimately, this is a band that have found their own sound; laidback progressive indie that grabs the listener with its originality." (Music Week Magazine)
Call To Mind are a band marching to their own beat, with the music to back up their fighting talk; "... it's as if Call To Mind have been together for years. A sound via Pink Floyd crossed with some kind of film score. It's sophisticated, subtle and restrained; it washes over you." (Scottish Provincial Press) "We just do our own thing," adds Jamie, "Unlike some, there's no need to jump on the nearest bandwagon. None of us really care about what's thought of our stuff, as long as we love it ourselves. We're dangling our feet over the edge and seeing what happens; every time it's different, and every time it's exciting."
With emphasis on Andrew Masson’s tectonic bass lines and Gavin Rutledge’s snare-heavy beats, they combine into a tense rumble that pushes along the guitars, piano, and vocals. This emphasis on rhythm has prevented Call To Mind from buckling under their pretensions; on stage, it gives their songs a torrential, physically compelling rush.
The atmospheric guitar work of Jamie Ross, with seething tones and soaring bends, brings a dynamic aggression to the music, particularly in a live environment. Martin Ross metallic whine meanwhile, embraces the stumbling progression of melody with harmony after harmony, and moments of depressed, gentle wistfulness, something duly noted after a festival appearance at Aberdeen’s GoNorth 2006: "Call To Mind’s singer boasts as strong an angst-rock yowl as anyone at the festival, coupled with the occasional falsetto you'd normally hear from Chris Martin. Ones to watch out for." (Culture Deluxe.com)
For their moments of gravity and excellence, Call To Mind point toward the clearly darker, more frenetic territory that up to now they have only poked at curiously. It’s the sound of losing faith, self-destructing, and subsequently rebuilding. It's cacophonous yet tranquil, textured yet vaporous, awakening yet dreamlike, visceral yet spacious, experimental yet familiar. It cleanses.
Anyone remotely interested in contemporary music should have a listen at least once.
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