Clear, intelligent vocals, set against pulsing reggae rhythms: What’s not like?  The self-titled debut album from The Calamatix is pure joy.

Release Date:  20^th September 2024

Label: Hellcat Records

Formats: Digital

Ladies and Gentlemen– presenting…

The Calamatix.  The band is the brainchild of vocalist and principal songwriter Raylin Joy and, at its core, comprises (alongside Raylin) Tim Armstrong and Adam Porris on guitars, William “Matty” Taylor on bass and Clarence “Pocket” Kidd III on drums.  But that’s by no means the whole story; to get a more complete picture, you need to add the tight-as-a-tourniquet brass section and some of the sweetest, swirlingest organ that you’ll hear this side of Trenchtown.  The Calimatix specialize in an irresistible brand of Jamaica-rooted, punk-flavoured, soul-solidified, pop-sweetened reggae and their self-titled debut album is a sheer joy, from start to finish.

VENTURA BORN, SCOTLAND RAISED

It all began when Ventura-born, Scotland-raised Raylin returned to her native California, aged 23.  She’d been writing about her life experiences and, after she paired up with guitarist Tim, the couple found a way of channeling Raylin’s darker, more depressing thoughts into music that is irresistibly bright and uplifting.  Raylin takes up the story:

“When this record first came into existence, years ago, I was going through one of the hardest periods of my life.  I was really struggling with depression and I didn’t have a lot to live for, honestly at the time.  I was really, really struggling.  Then I would go into the studio and we’d write a song and I’d just be on the biggest high.  So, for a long time, this record was one of the main things keeping me going.”

Tim continues: “When Ray and I started writing together, we weren’t sure what it would be for.  I quickly recognized how easy it was for us to construct songs together so it was a super fun process.  She’s an incredibly talented storyteller and the way she connects and communicates is amazing.”

KINGSTON, COVENTRY AND CARMEL

And that talent for storytelling is one of the factors that makes the difference.  The pulsing reggae rhythms are (almost) ever present but Raylin’s clear, intelligent lyrics, delivered by a voice and accent that you wouldn’t normally associate with the Caribbean are a special feature of The Calamatix product.  You could say that the band’s music is a perfect blend of Kingston, Coventry and Carmel.  Throughout the album, the rich, tasteful backing retains the heart of Raylin’s lyrics, and you can sense the pleasure and relief that prompted Raylin to comment: “At the end of the day, some of the best things are born out of terrible situations.  We had all of this adversity and we turned it something really beautiful.” 

You sure as hell did.

THE TUNES

It’s all in place right from the word ‘go.’  Raylin’s bittersweet lyrics are fired like bullets from a machine gun against the bright reggae backing of opening track Love, Lies and Alibis.  Tim’s and Adam’s guitar fills are satisfying and Matty’s bass pumps and pulses exactly as it should.  Raylin’s passionate vocals are at full-force for Believe It Or Not, another tune that skips along delightfully and the swirling organ and the blasts from the horns add the Caribbean flavour.

There’s a nice contrast between the lighting-speed ska of Still Rudy and Raylin’s measured vocal delivery; she sounds like she’s singing especially for you, and you alone, before she turns her multi-talented hand to rapping, for the relentless, unstoppable Rootstyle.  The solid rocksteady backing drives the song along and the lazy brass licks make the listener believe that summer is here and is going to last forever.

coy and poppy

The pace drops, but only very, very slightly for the coy, poppy, Book Of Love.  The reggae rhythms are as persistent as ever but, for this song, it’s Raylin’s intimate vocals that really catch the ear.  And the pace continues to slow for the eerie, sleazy Dread.  The splashes of electric guitar add to the sinister vibe and Raylin’s vocals take an accusing tone as she voices her confusion and mistrust at the state of her relationship.

The Jamaican rhythms aren’t abandoned entirely for the magnificent Boom Bap, but things certainly do take a turn in an R&B direction.  Raylin delivers a superbly confrontational vocal, whilst Matty underpins everything with a splendid, looping bassline.  It’s back to full-pelt ska for Lady; the song sounds as though it may have started life as a slower, bluesier number before the band got hold of it, but it’s responded wonderfully to the ska treatment and the skin-tight horns complete the transformation.

gospel tinged

Raylin channels Mavis Staples for the gospel-tinged Enjoy This Life and she absolutely convinces, -and I love the bubbly backing, a rich gumbo of guitars and horns that’s built upon the ever-dependable foundation of Matty’s bouncy bass and Pocket’s shuffling drumbeat.  And, speaking of bouncy – the bouncy reggae of Phone Call is guaranteed to become a live show favourite; I can’t imagine that anyone would be able to resist getting to their feet and knocking out shapes whilst THIS one is in full-flow.  It’s a song that is full of life and Raylin lives that life to the fullest extent with her vocal performance.  And the wonderful organ solo tops the whole thing off.

And the joy doesn’t stop there.  There’s a Hawaiian feel to Before It Stops, a song that also recalls the mid-sixties reggae heyday of songs like Nicky Thomas’s Love of the Common People, and Raylin’s vocals are full of expression.

AS SWEET AS TUPELO HONEY

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the album is the closing track, a delicious interpretation of Van Morrison’s Tupelo Honey. The Calamatix really do add a new dimension to song and I sense that I’ll be playing this particular track, on repeat, for the next few weeks and beyond.  The band is tight and the organ licks are as sweet as the honey of the song’s title.  What a fantastic way to conclude a truly excellent album.

Watch the official video to Love, Lies and Alibis, the album’s opening track, here:

The Calamatix online: Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / X (formerly Twitter) / TikTok / YouTube / Spotify

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