How can four guys from Iceland sound so root-sy and bluesy with a song that feels like heat and humidity, and which has nothing at all to do with the ice and snow of their homeland?
“Way Down We Go,” by the band Kaleo has a gospel like quality to both the vocal and the melody. The relentless, chain gang stomp in the background reminded me of Josh White and other early Delta bluesmen.
The lyrics are poetic and vivid and seem to vaguely indicate that we all going down due to exhaustion and perhaps exploitation. The opening lines are:
Ohh father tell me
Do we get what we deserve
I like the song for its vibe and sound. Those poetic and vivid lyrics are lovely to listen to but didn’t deliver much information, or trigger visual images, but that’s OK, because I connected to the to the emotional intensity and intent.
About Kaleo
° “Way Down We Go” is currently charting Top 10 on Adult Alternative radio.
° Sometimes described as Indie pop, rock, or folk.
° The band formed in 2014. They debuted at South by Southwest (SXSW) in 2015 and generated enough attention to be included in Esquire magazine’s “40 Bands You Need to Hear.” NPR picked them up, too.
° This is Kaleo’s second single release.
° Band members:
Jökull Júlíusson
Davíð Antonsson
Daníel Ægir Kristjánsson
Rubin Pollock