Calla was formed in New York City in 1997 by Aurelio Valle (guitar, vocals), Sean Donovan
(bass, keyboards, programming), and Wayne B. Magruder (percussion, programming), adding Peter
Gannon in 2003 and Sean Donovan departing in 2004. However, the band's origins can be traced to Texas
in 1993, where Valle, Magruder and Gannon began performing together in the Denton band, The Factory
Press. The Factory Press relocated to New York in 1995, recording The Smoky Ends of a Burnt out Day
with producers Kid Congo Powers and Matt Verta-Ray. The group split in 1997 and the album was not
released until early 1998, by which time Valle and Magruder were pursuing new musical ventures. Most
notably, Magruder worked with Bowery Electric and Windsor for the Derby.A four-track demo was
completed in 1998, generating interest from the Brussels label Sub Rosa, which released the band's first
album to critical acclaim in 1999. Calla's self-titled debut prised apart traditional song structures and
reconfigured the components into subtly apocalyptic, cinematic pieces, at times evoking electronically
processed Ennio Morricone soundscapes. Calla subsequently made the transition to performance, a
process that gave Valle, Magruder, and Donovan their first taste of playing together outside a studio
environment.
Playing live had a significant impact on the band's sound and direction. Having been excited by the
debut album, Michael Gira was particularly impressed by the way Calla's music had been changed by live
performance and signed the group to his label, Young God Records.The band's first album on Young God,
SCAVENGERS (January 2001), marked a subtle change in orientation. SCAVENGERS was less reliant
on studio processing and although it displayed a familiar atmospheric minimalist sensibility, its textures
coalesced into more conventional song formats. Understanding the mixture of indie rock and high concept
art that their music represented, TELEVISE (January 2003) solidifed their jagged indie pop sound. Calla
entered the studio in late Summer 2004 with members Aurelio Valle, Wayne Magruder, and Peter Gannon
to record their fourth full length with producer Chris Zane (Televised) and additional mixing by Victor Van
Vught (Nick Cave, PJ Harvey). This album, "COLLISIONS" was released on Beggars Banquet
late 2005 to critical acclaim. 2006 saw Calla playing shows across Europe, Greece, and Russia where
new songs were written and rehearsed. Inspired by their travels and combining all aspects of their previous
albums, Calla recorded their fifth album in NYC and Austin, TX. "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS"
was released in early 2007. |
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