Hailing from the small Ontario town of Sault Ste. Marie, Kalle Mattson has come a long way in the last three years. With their successful debut album “Whisper Bee” and their viral video for “Thick as Thieves”, their new EP, Lives in Between, will without a doubt propel them further into the spotlight.
Lives in Between is the precursor for an upcoming album that, based solely on the five tracks, promises to be amazing. The EP features five songs with titles and lyrics that are perfect for warm, summer days. Most of the songs sound very similar to one another, often only consisting of a simple, quiet acoustic guitar strumming in the background allowing lead singer Kalle Wainio’s own soft, peaceful voice to shine through.
The similarity of the songs works in favour for the album. The first song on the EP, “Someday” is a ballad about two lovers reuniting “someday”. The harmonica solos emphasize the theme of loneliness that the lyrics describe. The reference to “a town in North Ontario” is a charming reminder of how the members of Kalle Mattson are proud of their roots.
The second song on the EP, “Sun is Gone” incorporates a trumpet solo into it. This song is very fun and may make some listeners want to get up and dance. With nonsensical rhymes such as “Come to me shivering tree/ come to me Holy Grail/ Set sail” make “Sun is Gone” a unique addition to the album. “Sun is Gone” is a perfect song for a warm, lazy day in the summer.
Differing from the other folk rock tracks, the third song, “The Shore”, has a heavier rock feel to it. It starts off with the expected slow acoustic guitar and then changes to using an electric guitar and heavier accents on the drums. A strange effect is used on Wainio’s voice, which may have just been some experimentation, but for people who appreciate the unique quality of his voice, this song may not cut it for them. It’s always good for musicians to try something different, and though “The Shore” is still an enjoyable song, it does not seem to fit with what is expected from Kalle Mattson.
Straying still from the folk feel that the EP begins with the next track, “Water Falls”, brings back the electric guitar in a way that really works for it. The addition of a trumpet solo into the mix livens up the song. Sometimes the lyrics are difficult to decipher because of the volume of the instruments, which makes it hard to sing along. Regardless, it’s still a nice addition to the EP.
The fifth and final song on the EP, “Miles in Between” utilizes a quiet guitar and an even quieter violin to allow Wainio’s soothing voice to shine through. It is a slow song, and often repeats the simple yet haunting lyrics “Some things are born to live and born to die”. This song will make listeners fall in love with Wainio’s voice. The simple lyrics may be seen as a negative aspect of the song, but instead the quiet instruments and repetitive lyrics allow listeners to focus on Wainio’s clear, harmonious voice.
Kalle Mattson is scheduled to appear at Feverfest and Bluesfest this summer.
