kaleido are a Zagreb-based indie‑emo band with a jazz‑fusion twist. Čiji je ovo pas? represents a confident and promising first step for kaleido with a tracklist that feels intimate, comforting, and quietly distinctive. The band consists of Mirna Čupić and Janet Beriša on vocals and guitars, Duga Bavoljak on vocals and trumpet, Andro Žamboki on bass, and Martin Palčić on drums and guitar.
Although “indie rock” is the easiest tag to apply, it doesn’t fully capture what’s happening here. The album blends Midwest emo warmth, post‑punk restraint, light jazz elements, and fuzz‑heavy guitar work into something that feels intimate and raw. The trumpet and layered vocals add a distinctive texture that separates Čiji je ovo pas? from many genre‑adjacent releases. If you’re drawn to the kind of alternative music associated with introspective American Midwest scenes of the late 90s and early 2000s, this will feel immediately familiar.
Sladoled is an early highlight. It leans into post‑punk while folding in Midwest emo and subtle jazz‑fusion touches. The track is nostalgic, calming, and genuinely catchy. The layered distorted guitars are particularly well handled, and the solo lands perfectly without overstaying its welcome. Toward the end, it briefly flirts with shoegaze, giving a dense, earthy weight to the track’s climax and underscoring the band’s wide‑ranging 90s influences.
Grozna Osoba opens softly with delicate vocals before expanding into driving alternative rock passages. It’s a shorter, restrained track that relies on dynamics rather than sheer volume. Oči follows a similar approach: hushed vocals sit among fragile guitars, creating an intimate urban snapshot that reinforces the album’s recurring themes of belonging and everyday life.
Kud Vozi and Jato wear their Midwest emo influences openly, evoking nostalgia for a sound already steeped in nostalgia, recalling bands like American Football. Lonely, emotionally distant lyrics are wrapped in a warm, hazy atmosphere shaped by gentle guitar lines, resulting in something both soothing and quietly melancholic.
As a debut, Čiji je ovo pas? is impressively assured. The vocals are enchanting, and the arrangements are steeped in nostalgia without feeling forced or shallow. The band has not yet fully perfected their pacing — some tracks blur into one another — and at just under 28 minutes, the album feels brief. Still, kaleido seem to be in the process of discovering the full range of their voice, and that sense of growth feels exciting rather than disappointing.
Where to Find Them
- Bandcamp: listen & support on Bandcamp
