Album Review: Sister Calypso’s Bell Dagger (2015)
Let’s cut to the chase—Sister Calypso’s Bell Dagger is like that one moody friend who shows up uninvited but ends up being the life of the party. Released in 2015 as a self-distributed gem under their own label, this record straddles genres like Rock and Alternative while dabbling in styles so ethereal they feel like they were recorded in a dream. Or maybe a fever dream? Either way, it sticks with you.
The album opens strong with “Thalassophobia,” which—if you didn’t know—is the fear of large bodies of water. And holy cow, does this track dive deep into its theme. It starts off slow, almost acoustic-y, lulling you into thinking it's just another indie ballad. But then BAM! The guitars kick in, and suddenly you're drowning—not in anxiety, but in soundscapes so lush they make your ears tingle. You can practically hear the ocean waves crashing over your headphones. Props to Sister Calypso for turning a phobia into something kinda beautiful.
Another standout? Oh, absolutely “Switchblades & Crosses.” This tune feels like sneaking out at midnight to meet someone you shouldn’t trust but can’t resist. There’s an edgy tension here, thanks to razor-sharp lyrics and a melody that walks the tightrope between haunting and hypnotic. Plus, bonus points for making me Google what exactly a switchblade-cross hybrid would look like. Spoiler alert: I still don’t know.
Now, full disclosure: there are some repeats on the tracklist (ahem, looking at you, “Something’s Walking Behind Me” and “Blood & Salt”), but honestly? It kinda works. Like when your favorite song comes on shuffle twice in a row—it’s not annoying; it’s serendipitous. Or maybe they just forgot to edit properly. Who knows?
By the time you hit “Riptide,” you realize Bell Dagger isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it’s spinning its own quirky version of it—a little wobbly, a lot enchanting. Sure, it might not be perfect, but perfection is boring anyway.
So if you’re into music that feels like wandering through foggy woods at dawn—or if you’ve ever wondered what happens when ethereal meets gritty—give Bell Dagger a spin. Just don’t blame me if you start developing thalassophobia after listening to the first track.
Final thought: If Sister Calypso ever tours, I hope they hand out tiny daggers as merch. Because why not?
