Album Spotlight: Tamarack by Kalos
Sometimes you need to take a step back and enjoy the simple things in life. Tamarack is the newest album from the folk ensemble Kalos, and at first glance might seem like a simple collection of folk tunes, but when you actually sit with it, and listen, you’ll find that Tamarack is rich with cultural history, and complex ideas.
“Kalos is drawn to water. Every performance is like stepping into a river.”
Beneath Kalos’ meditative music, you’ll find roots in Scottish, Irish, and American folk music. Ryan McKasson plays the fiddle, Eric McDonald plays the guitar, and Jeremiah McLane plays the accordion. Both Ryan and Jeremiah are the vocalists for Kalos.
“Tamarack” being the newest and shiniest album from Kalos, it showcases the best that these musicians have to offer, being a fun romp through Scottish, Irish, and American folk music, it has slower beats that are almost melancholic, followed by upbeat jigs that are reminiscent of contradance. Every piece on this album shows the depth of beauty that these musicians can manifest from their instruments. Some standouts to us here at KSUA are;
Track 2: “Tamarack”
Track 5: “The Open Door”
Track 7: “Miss MacGregor’s/The First Print/Ladies of Boston Harbor”
“Tamarack” offers a reprieve from the noise of everyday life with acoustic instrumentation and lyrics that flow like a poem. Make sure to give this one a listen.
By Burnley Garron