Joal Kamps tells touching tales on Heads is East, Tails is West

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Calgary based songwriter Joal Kamps tells some beautiful stories and sings addictively beautiful melodies on his new CD “ Heads is East, Tails is West.”


 He kicks things off on a high note with “Heads or Tails” a song about the freedom of hitting the road.
His voice isClick Here to Hear Joal Kamps reminiscent of Toronto based folk/ pop songwriters Peter Katz and Rob Szabo with a touch of classic rock band  Styx’s lead singer Dennis DeYoung.


There is a strong historical bent to much of his the music. Especially on the hair raisingly catchy “Coal Miner” a song about the survivor of a mine disaster and one of many songs reflecting a wistfully nostalgic peek into the past.
 The CD ends with one of the most touching tracks on the CD is “Accept Me”  which has a gorgeous violin solo from David Dufresne and some emotional piano playing from Craig Learmont.


 Dufresne's violin marks most of the best songs on the CD including “Coal Miner.” He also plays a hot mandolin solo on “Time Stands Still.”


 The wistful “ Be Gentle” is another highlight about unrequited love between a young farmer and his crush.
 There are a lot of wistful songs about home and family farms like “From The Start ” and  a lot of songs about leaving home. The Celtic tinged folk number “ Years From Now” sounds like a B side  from country stars Rascal Flatts.


” Kamps is also a very talented guitarist, which comes through on tracks like “Hemel Kom” which features a beautiful guitar solo from Lethbridge's own Evan Uschenko who plays lead guitar on most of the CD and bass on several tracks as well.


 Kamps plays some beautiful guitar on “Thief” the stunningly beautiful classical music inspired instrumental “Winter 1906-07” and the lilting “ Time Stands Still,” a sweet song about the love of family.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
CD: Heads is East, Tails is West
Artist: Joal Kamps
Genre: folk/ pop
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