Calebo – I’m Only a Guest in the House of the Lord (2022)
Through their single ‘I’m Only a Guest in the House of the Lord’, Calebo draws on spiritual and religious philosophies to consider a bittersweet sense of freedom. The single considers how we can gain freedom by acknowledging that we don’t actually own any of our possessions, the land, or even our own bodies. While this can be a melancholic idea, there is a feeling of hope that has been woven into the track, bringing a strange positivity to the sentiment.
Drawing on the songwriting styles of the early 90s, the band brings a retro touch to some introspective lyrics, while adding their own modern flair. Dan Caleb (guitar, vocals), Georgia Maria (lead guitar), Roy Lubugumu (drums) and Rob Ouseley (bass) met on the London open mic circuit in 2017. After bumping into each other multiple times a week, they decided to form a band which has become known for their frenetic live performances.
The guitar line that opens ‘I’m Only a Guest in the House of the Lord’ instantly grabs your attention. There is a strange vibe to the opening line that fills you with a bittersweet melancholy. This bittersweet feeling continues to be woven into the melody throughout the single. The rather stripped-back movement of the melody soars into rock tones halfway through the track. The rock guitars push against your senses, coming from nowhere. There is a retro tinge to the rock flows, but there is also a modern vibe to the movement. The change in the melody has been handled fantastically and you become a little addicted to the rock guitars. As the electric guitar flies out over the crash of the drums, it takes you to new heights.
While you are getting lost in the music, Caleb’s vocals pull you into a very serious lyrical flow. His vocals enter with a simple laying out of feelings that tug at your emotions. His performance is rich as it is carried on the back of the soft melodic line. Just before the rock tones hit, he beckons you further into the tale of the track. His voice loses some of the vulnerability that filled the opening as he gains a rock edge. Some of the bittersweet touches of the melody are woven into the vocals, bringing a melancholic feeling to the track. This is slowly dropped as you ride the understanding of the freedom that comes through the lyrics, leading you to a strange positivity regarding the future.
Bittersweet and melancholic, yet strangely freeing and positive, ‘I’m Only a Guest in the House of the Lord’ by Calebo offers a soaring retro touch to serious contemplations. The music moves from bittersweet tenderness to a soaring rock tone that fills your chest with its sound. Caleb’s vocals move to match, going from vulnerable and pained, to a wonderful bittersweet freedom.
Find out more about Calebo on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
