K

A hot live band, Kalàscima are at the forefront of the wave of Italian musicians writing new material that combines local traditions and technology. With K, the sextet undertake new sonic adventures. Thus, the ten tracks here have been mixed and mastered by Tim Oliver at Real World Studios and are built upon an indie-rock attitude and captivating electronic textures. The visionary lyrics blend Salento dialect, Griko language and English. At times, the colliding sounds don't fit together and the band appear to push too far. That said, their musical potpourri and energy can be felt to good effect on the whirling ‘Ballamundi’. Also illuminating is the edgy industrial ambience of ‘Korasài’. Elsewhere, the polyphony works effectively on the pizzica-charged ‘Tie Si l'Amore’, while the lyrics in the rocking ‘Vortoj’ are inspired by both William Blake's symbolism and Griko poetry. ‘Luce’ is an atmospheric alla stisa song, whereas on ‘Centu Vie’ the solid tamburello pulse merges with electronic patterns and Mongolian throat singing. With the punk-rock tarantula explosion of ‘Sex Drugs and Pizzica Pizzica’, Kalàscima provocatively comment on the effect of mass summer tourism to their land. It's full-blooded, vital and likeable urban electro-folk music.