Calliope “Orbis” 2014, self-released on red vinyl. Flashback to last Friday when we caught Milwaukee-based Calliope for their performance at Breadfest IV’s “Weekend at Linneman’s” where we picked up this EP and I basically haven’t stopped listening to it since. Described as fuzzed-out psych rock and (rightly) compared to the Doors and the Animals, Calliope rocks hard yet creates the perfect atmospheric music for a 3:00 a.m. drive down the dark, deserted highway after a show when eyes are fogged and mind is hazed (but, as Joe pointed out, really perfect only for the passenger). “Prelude” begins with a riff reminiscent of the Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.” “Guns” is my favorite song on the EP, “Casino” a close second with its ominous carnival funhouse organ intro that explodes into a massively heavy beat, droned-out lyrics and killer hooks. “The King” pays homage to the king (Elvis) with its bluesy rockabilly guitar intro but also to the Lizard King (Morrison) with singer/organist Al Kraemer’s vocal delivery (Kraemer’s vocals compare favorably to Morrison’s but his poetry, in my opinion, is far less pretentious. I love the Doors but Morrison can be…a bit much). “Iron Hand” reminds me of the Black Angels’ entire catalog: all dark, heavy and rich psychedelic layers and swirls. Calliope has recently joined the Romanus Records label – I’ll be posting about their 7″ release on Romanus in the near future – and I’m hoping a full length record will come out soon because my only real criticism of Orbis is that it is too short.

****UPDATE: just got a note from Al Kramer that a new full length is about to go into production on Romanus Records.