The versatile husband-and-wife team of David and Enion Pelta-Tiller have spent a handful of years pursuing a sound that takes listeners on an enlightening cultural acoustic journey. As Taarka, the group they front along with award-winning bassist Troy Robey and prodigious young guitarist Mike Robinson, they conjure a worldly sound bursting with gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and fiddle tunes from all around the world. Their sound is rich and their songwriting is insightful, and as a group the members of Taarka have undeniable natural chemistry, whether playing an intricate arrangement or improvising loosely.
On March 10th Taarka will release their new album Fading Mystery. The album was was captured live on the Potomac River in eastern Virginia, and the result is a pure sound that can showcases the magic this quartet can create together. On Fading Mystery the members of Taarka seem to embrace a more Americana-oriented sound with thoughtfully written songs while also giving us instrumentals that fall into a bluegrass and old-timey realm. One of those instrumentals is “Finn McCool Crosses The Rocky Mountains”, which we are excited to premiere on Glide Magazine today. The fiddle-driven number is a rollicking bluegrass jam is the perfect vehicle to showcase the playing skills of each band member, and it also feels like the perfect soundtrack for summer festivals.
Enion Pelta-Tiller shares the story behind the song:
“Finn McCool is a fiddle tune that was written while I was on a fall tour in the Rockies. I had bought a graphic novel about Irish mythology as a gift for my son, and had been reading it. The tune came to me with images of the giant, Finn McCool, running over the mountains with his red hair matching the bright colors of the aspens in autumn regalia, and mixes features of Irish and American fiddle tunes. I brought it to the band with the idea of mixing a little 70s jazz/pop fusion into it (I’d been listening to Joan Armatrading at the time), and I love what we came up with.”
LISTEN:
Taarka’s new album Fading Mystery is out March 10th. For more music and info visit taarka.com.
