Kali Dreamer – October Requiem: 1988

By Ryan G

The latest output from Columbus based Kali Dreamer is his most accessible and innovative yet.

If you’ve followed this artist in any capacity over the past few years, none of what you experience listening to this record will be shocking to you, but perhaps there will be some surprises along the way. Do not pigeonhole Kali. You’ll regret it.

I’ve been battling a bit of writer’s block on how to write this review. I’ll be honest about that. This can be a double-edged sword; often this means I’ve encountered something where I’m struggling to put into words what exactly I’m feeling. This novelty feeling is present in spades on this record. So, congrats Kali – you’ve left me temporarily speechless (in a good way).

One of the most striking things about this album is the way that the gothic and emo influences intersect. On tracks like “Hellbender,” “Manipulated Dead” and “Corpse Boyfriend” goth vocals overlay guitarwork with a decidedly midwestern emo vibe, and it just works. What else can I say about that?

The ten-track album also clocks in at just under a half hour long. The result is a rapid-fire approach of earworms that serves as a proper resume for what Kali Dreamer is all about. A fair number of these tracks could be considered radio friendly, though not in a conventional way. “Zombie Star” is the first one that comes to mind in this regard.

At times, you’ll feel unsettled. This is by design. “Gallows Type Thing” has a background sound effect that at first I found simply grating. Upon closer listen I realized it was a deliberate effect to communicate an effect of running out of breath and suffocation. It’s supposed to be unsettling and the sort of thing that gets under your skin. I love it and hate it at the same time. I didn’t completely put that together until the third or fourth listen of that song, but I’ll never be able to listen again without noticing that subtle effect. The other unsettling effect comes from the melodies themselves. It’s the sort of thing that stays with you after you finish listening, it kind of haunts you. But, that rapid-fire earworm approach to songwriting makes you want to come back to the songs again and again.

The Halloween release of this album is entirely on brand for Kali Dreamer. I kind of wish I had more time to really marinate in this mood during October (the impending holiday season feels off kilter for something like this) but I can’t fault the timing either. Well, I guess I’ll have to create my own Nightmare Before Christmas playlist. This album might be the only thing on it.

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