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Since Calla‘s seemingly indefinite hiatus in 2007, frontman Aurelio Valle dropped off the musical radar, save a few film soundtracks here and there. Now, with his first official solo album, the singer and multi-instrumentalist continues exploring the dark roads he helped pave a decade ago.
Comparisons to Calla are inevitable with Valle’s whispering voice in the forefront, but, on Acme Power Transmission, he takes the experimentation so much further, abandoning his guitar in favor of electronic programming, ambient loops and even self-taught drums. Recorded in his Brooklyn apartment, these nine songs tell the stories of the neighborhood, of lives eager for the next day and lives defeated, of the mystery of the everyday sidewalk and the internal drama of private life. Elements of Depeche Mode‘s morose synth-pop seep through, though “Deadbeat” sounds like New Order with the italo dancebeat mixed out and “Superhawk” nods to the eerie quality of border radio stations. “Cowboy” bares a Secret Machines vibe, while “Movement” perfectly nails the sexy late-night funk of dark wood bars. It’s an ambitious work, but entirely successful and wholly engaging.
If all those years of Aurelio Valle’s relative silence were necessary to get to this point, it was well worth it. Hopefully, he’s found the inspiration needed to get back on that horse. Whether it spawns the return of Calla or a vibrant Valle solo career, Acme Power Trasmission marks the triumphant return of a brilliant musician. Welcome back, Aurelio.
