By Brady Smith
A quantum is defined as the smallest unit of matter in an interaction. As such, it is a well-suited title for Cualli’s debut album. Aaron Holsapple leads us in a masterfully mixed journey through wildly fresh musical varieties by giving fine attention to the smallest elements. Cualli blends several types of electronic music punctuated by improvised guitar licks that illuminate it with stingingly prudent novelty. Hints of Lotus and STS9 combine with the hard-hitting bass derived from dubstep.
This album tantalizes the listener with tastes of almost limitless musical influences. Funk in the opening song “Imminent Earth” crescendos into a cosmic flight of synth melodies, and “Mystic Sunrise Pt. 1” offers an experimental flow of genres. The use of the sitar and electric guitar gives a fresh mix of sporadic riffs.
“Mystic Sunrise Pt. 2” is the longest song on the album, exceeding ten minutes, and it begins to create restlessness in the listener. Although Cualli’s variety within the song continues to impress, the melodies become so random that they lack any coherence, leading the listener to question whether this is indeed one song. Although this feature highlights Cualli’s inventiveness in live sets, it becomes slightly overbearing in an album.
Taking in the whole album, Cualli’s debut offers us the variety that many have been searching for in the monotonous world of electronic production. With music that can satisfy the tastes of all electronic junkies, expect to see Cualli break further into the Ft. Collins music scene.
soundcloud.com/cualli