Caleb<3Kina - Who We Were Last Autumn
There’s something to be said about simple slow-core in the vain of Carissa’s Weird. Who We Were Last Autumn by Caleb<3Kina, an internet collaboration between Caleb of USA and Kina of Poland, is a bittersweet mixtape filled with mopey, simple songs that are shamelessly effective. Released January 1, 2022, the album was well worth listening to.
Whether it’s the cold whispers of Kina on Who We Were Last Autumn, The cardboard snares on Stabilizers, the harmonica on War, or the fuzzy guitars amidst the piano on the closer Sunday, the album is consistently charming. Compositionally, the album is lacking, though the songwriting suites the style implemented. Each song is merely a soft hymn expanded upon, or a lush instrumental to piece together sections. Whereas Kina’s delivery is often inconsistent (charmingly so), Caleb’s instrumentals are consistently lively and sharp. Furthermore, the arrangements are incredibly well varied. Peak instrumentation can be heard on Home, a rather jovial, experiment lo-fi sensational piece. Undeniable is the abhorrent production, which only bolsters the underdog effort. Unfortunately, outside the mixing, the recordings themselves are identifiably one-shot efforts. At times it’s too close to the mic, others too far away. Some retakes could have gone a long way.
It goes without saying that the distance and recording conditions between the two artists hurt the overall quality of the album. Regardless, simple revision could have bandaged many of the issues notwithstanding. Despite all this, the project works, and soars high in the enjoyability department. Considering no one listens to their mixtapes, one can easily deduce these passion projects come from the heart and are born of a true connection between the two artists. This emotion is prevalent within their work, and ought to be given a chance. Overall, Who We Were Last Autumn is a surprisingly very enjoyable experience.
Good
Listen to it here:
https://calebandkina.bandcamp.com/album/who-we-were-last-autumn
Caleb<3Kina - Who We Were Last Autumn
