On their third release, Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin share more of the exquisitely sparse arrangements that have made their collaborations memorable each time. This time around, Lucas Kane joined the trio, adding his instrumental expertise to what Kaplin already does so well.
One Resonant Band
According to the Dead Reckoning Web site, Kane, Welch and Kaplin were going for a sound on this record that would make it clear they're less three solo artists collaborating, and more of a legitimate band. It's hard to imagine anyone not taking this collaboration seriously.
Fats Kaplin is one of the most skilled multi-instrumentalists around, and his addition to Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch's incredible compositions make this one undeniable band. In fact, despite the great artists at work here, it's the songs that are most notable of all.
Kane Welch Kaplin's Notable Songs
"That's What I've Got" is a hard-rolling folk-blues tune about being able to count only on onesself. "I Wish I Had That Mandolin" is a haunting narrative, road-weary folk song. The instrumental breaks and syncopated guitar lines move the tune along at a plodding pace, bringing the tune across like a story some traveling man may tell himself on the road.
"Last Lost Highway" is a sad, unforgetable song about one man's heartbreaking downfall. By the time Kaplin's early fiddle solo enters, its slow-bowed melody sings like a distant sob. "Dark Boogie #7" comes in toward the end with a quick, trotting rhythmic story-telling verse, before giving way to electric guitar solos and hand claps. This is where Kaplin and Lucas Kane show off their greatest instrumental intuition.
The Bottom Line
There's no question that Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane, Lucas Kane and Fats Kaplin are one solid band, outdoing and reinventing so many sub-genres of American folk music with each song. The compositions on this self-titled album are sharp and tight, without any unnecessary melodic decoration. As a result, the album sets an excellent standard for the group's innovative style of American folk music.
