From sun baked Tucson Arizona, comes an amazing band called Calexico, deriving its name from a town of 27,100 on the border of Mexico and California. Calexico the band is a duo of talented musicians containing guitarist, vocalist, Joey Burns and drummer John Covertino.
First hearing them live after a few too many cocktails at NYC Touch and Go records showcase on Halloween at Irving Plaza, I was fortunate enough to have been sent this disc.
The new album is entitled 'Feast of Wire' containing sixteen delectable tracks of passion and Latin. These indie rockers are composing the most elegant music using a variety of instruments and a handful of styles ranging from Latin, Mariachi, Folk, Jazz, Country Soul, and Rock.
'Feast of Wire' starts with the brief 'Sunken Waltz' with a western jangle guitar and a cowboy tale convincingly told by Burns with a galloping beat keeping cadence by Covertino.
Next up is the seductive 'Quattro (World Drifts In)' with its lush precision guitar layers and calm Chris Issac-eque vocals, and off beat drumming. This track adds the use of a horn section on the chorus, which brings an uplifting quality to this intricate tale of woe.
'Black Heart' adds some hauntingly beautiful string arrangements to this dramatic stark piece.
'Pepita' with mandolin and guitar woven piece brilliantly orchestrated with a lonely desert guitar wandering in the distance along with a tight beat.%0lcHB
'Not even Stevie Nicks . . ' is the most bittersweet pop track off the album showcasing Burns's vocal melodies.
''Close Behind” an upbeat track gets you in the mood to jump on a horse and go for a wild ride.
One of my favorite tracks is called 'Woven Birds' a gentle waltz beat with a strong tale of words gentle told by Burns, that leads to the most amazing chorus backed with vibes, which send chills down my spine.
The other track is the odd “Attack El Robot! Attack!” which sounds like they enlisted Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse , and the Tom Waits for the composition .
Well enough about Calexico, its time to say “good buy!” You won't be sorry |