Kalos

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Unique among conifers, the tamarack tree loses its needles every fall. Sprigs roar back neon green in spring, then fade to yellow and red before dropping to the earth again in autumn. The amalgam of color, transformation, and renewal the tree reflects is perfectly mirrored in Tamarack, the third recording by acclaimed Celtic folk trio Kalos. Featuring award-winning fiddler Ryan McKasson, virtuoso accordionist Jeremiah McLane, and gifted guitarist/vocalist Eric McDonald, the signature sound of Kalos shines through on eleven gorgeous tracks.

“The Tamarack tree is earthy, grounded, resilient, and utterly beautiful,” says McDonald. “As we were making the album, we embraced a range of sounds, styles, and colors. While looking for a name, we were touring through the woodlands of Quebec surrounded by Tamaracks and experienced an immediate feeling of kinship with the music. The annual transformation of the Tamarack, with its various colors and inevitable renewal, felt like the perfect metaphor.”

McKasson, McLane and McDonald share the tight, musical rapport that comes from years of playing together. Their meticulously crafted arrangements take listeners through a landscape where deep heritage meets restless, forward-looking instincts. McDonald’s Celtic guitar and considerable flat-picking skill drive the band forward, while McKasson’s lithe bowings and McClane’s fleet fingers weave circles around each other. On the vocal tracks, McDonald takes a tenor lead backed by McKasson and McLane in gorgeous three-part harmony.

The music on Tamarack, produced by Kalos friend and collaborator Yann Falquet, ranges from Scottish reels and ballads to Cajun and New England barn burners. Traditional tunes (a fair number from the 1700s) are given a modern twist, the originals sparkle with invention, and the arrangements of contemporary songwriters take great tunes to even greater places.