Tarragon - Home at Cofa’s
The second studio album by British folk artist Tarragon is an honest exercise in self-reflection and a compelling observation of the world around him.
Tarragon is preparing to unveil his sophomore record, Home at Cofa’s, a project shaped in collaboration with a wide range of contributors. The album features musicians who have worked with genre heavyweights like The 1975, Tame Impala, The War on Drugs, Supertramp, and Bon Iver, among others. Despite this diverse lineup, the emotional core of the album remains Callum Pickard, the driving force behind Tarragon. The result is a warm blend of indie electronica that explores belonging, the challenge of fitting into a city that often feels out of sync, learning to move forward after a breakup, growing alongside others, and ultimately questioning what “home” truly means.
Take the lead single “Kiss Me On the Line”, recorded with My Brightest Diamond. It drifts through delicate ambient textures, sounding both futuristic and wistfully nostalgic. Here, Pickard addresses a former lover with striking honesty, trying to understand what went wrong and why things ended so abruptly. The guest vocals add a graceful layer of harmony, creating the feeling of a quiet dialogue within the track.
“Tucked In Despair” continues this emotional thread: the artist feels adrift, longing for reconnection. Built around soft dream-pop elements, it echoes the atmosphere of I Like It When You Sleep… by The 1975. His voice comes across as smooth and velvety, adding to the track’s intimacy. On the more folk-leaning “Blueprint”, Tarragon reflects on personal growth within a relationship, acknowledging how it shaped him and expressing a willingness to keep loving and being loved. The minimalist title track captures him in a state of transformation—restless nights, self-improvement, and the desire to become a better version of himself.
One of the album’s standout tracks, “Catching the Full On,” incorporates subtle ’80s-inspired synths while continuing the theme of personal evolution. Despite its stylistic variety, the record flows naturally, with each piece complementing the next. Another highlight, “Recover Your Light,” is a delicate, string-driven ballad about lost love. In just two and a half minutes, it manages to resonate deeply, stirring a sense of quiet melancholy — almost cinematic in its emotional pull.
Before recording the album, Pickard worked various jobs, and those experiences seep into the songwriting. The folktronic “Reel Lives”, reminiscent of 22, A Million by Bon Iver, reflects on his time as a COVID-19 test worker. This broader perspective on everyday life carries into “Cold to the Bones”, a track that wouldn’t feel out of place on Notes on a Conditional Form by The 1975.
The pairing of “Small Colt Leader” and “Hail Hollow” leans into classic British folk traditions—airy, windswept, and quietly uplifting. These songs evoke vivid imagery of open landscapes, strong winds, and overcast skies. The closing track, “It’s Time We Go Now (Trading Hearts)”, is particularly graceful. Breakups have long been a central theme in music, yet here they are framed with a sense of acceptance—suggesting that every ending carries the seed of something new and, in its own way, something beautiful.
At its heart, Home at Cofa’s is a candid exploration of emotion and desire, a meditation on self-growth, and a slightly detached yet deeply personal view on the world. Tarragon assembles an impressive group of collaborators, but never loses his presence at the center. It’s a thoughtfully crafted project made with genuine care — and its ambition pays off.
7.1/10
