Kallisto

Transforming klezmer modal traditions into clarinet-led progressive rock with a psychedelic twist

Chameleon

Kallisto

Kallisto’s new album is a musical portrait of Montréal through a distorted klezmer lens, blending progressive rock, Anatolian folk music, surf rock, funk, trip hop, psychedelic rock, and Jewish musical traditions into Read more
Kallisto’s new album is a musical portrait of Montréal through a distorted klezmer lens, blending progressive rock, Anatolian folk music, surf rock, funk, trip hop, psychedelic rock, and Jewish musical traditions into sprawling instrumental narratives inspired by the city’s neighbourhoods, contradictions, and movement.

From the heavy polyrhythms and ritualistic cello doina of Evil Eye, inspired by the Jewish concept of the “ayin hara,” to the restless 11/8 transformations of Chameleon, the album explores Montréal as a constantly shifting organism shaped by construction, migration, nightlife, winter, and cultural hybridity.

Pieces like Khosidl channel the Jewish atmosphere of Mile End through funk and trip hop grooves, while Yalla captures the frantic energy and grit of downtown métro life. CDN (Côte-des-Neiges) reflects the layered communities and youthful spirit of one of Montréal’s most diverse neighbourhoods through surf rock and hip-hop influences, and the album closes with Ice Age Princess, a cinematic three-part suite portraying Montréal as a beautiful, harsh, unpredictable winter figure.

Throughout the album, Kallisto treats klezmer not as a museum tradition, but as a living musical language capable of colliding with distortion pedals, psychedelic textures, dance rhythms, and urban storytelling.
0:00/???
  1. 1
    0:00/9:02
  2. 2
    0:00/4:07
  3. 3
    0:00/4:46
  4. 4
    0:00/5:14
  5. 5
    Yalla 3:46
    0:00/3:46
  6. 6
    0:00/8:40

Turtle Island Tour: Charlie Needs Braces X Kallisto

 —  —

Café la Ligne Verte, 2531 rue Ontario E, Montréal

Garigal/Walkaloa sisters Charlie and Miri from Live Looping act Charlie Needs Braces have drawn in audiences across Australia, their energetic musical landscapes weaving together stories and language. Their songs highlight the importance of protecting sacred sites, nurturing cultural heritage, and sharing the stories of their people, emphasizing the need to keep culture alive and protect these sacred places from development. Montreal's Kallisto draws from klezmer, Balkan, and Anatolian traditions, filtering them through psychedelic rock, progressive arrangements, and original compositions. The result is a sound that is both deeply rooted and completely its own.

Charlie et Miri, les sœurs Garigal/Walkaloa du groupe de live looping « Charlie Needs Braces », ont conquis le public à travers toute l’Australie grâce à leurs univers musicaux énergiques qui mêlent récits et langue. Leurs chansons soulignent l’importance de protéger les sites sacrés, de préserver le patrimoine culturel et de partager les histoires de leur peuple, en insistant sur la nécessité de maintenir la culture vivante et de protéger ces lieux sacrés contre le développement immobilier. Le groupe montréalais Kallisto puise son inspiration dans les traditions klezmer, balkaniques et anatoliennes, qu’il revisite à travers le rock psychédélique, des arrangements progressifs et des compositions originales. Il en résulte un son à la fois profondément ancré dans ses racines et totalement unique.

16.70$ pre-sale

Share

Contact

Join our mailing list and stay in the loop!