|
By Kayceman
Calexico has long been tied to band leaders Joey Burns (vocals/guitar) and John Convertino's (drums) Southwestern roots. It should therefore come as little surprise that Calexico began rehearsals and wrote the material for Garden Ruin (their fifth full-length) in Bisbee, AZ and recorded in Tucson, AZ. In addition to dusty landscapes, Tex-Mex influences, and Spanish-jazz inflections (thanks to guest vocalist Amparo Sanches on "Roka"), Garden Ruin incorporates the soul of southeastern Arizona's Bisbee. A small Victorian mining town that has grown into a left-wing liberal hangout full of artist, writers, and folks who have no need for cell phones, you can feel the pace of this small progressive town and sense its way of life in these eleven songs.
Even more than location, Garden Ruin's well-rounded, rich sound is due to the players' varied ethnicities and multi-instrumental abilities. In addition to Burns and Convertino, the album features Tucson's Jacob Valenzuela (keys/trumpet/vibes), Germany's Martin Wenk (accordion/guitar/synthesizers/trumpet/vibes) and Volker Zander (upright and electric bass), and former Lambchop pedal steel guru Paul Niehaus. It's this vast reach of influences that pushes Garden Ruin across the desert and into more ambitious, truly original territory. The band retains their spaghetti western, Gypsy-jazz, Portuguese Fado, and surf-twang, but they manage to include a hefty dose of pop-rock and even swarming, buzzing, feedback-laden guitars (see the eleven-minute disc-closer "All Systems Red").
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Garden Ruin is the record's ability to move between all of these influences while maintaining a cohesive feel. From the lovely vocals and touching arrangements of "Cruel" and "Yours and Mine" to the infectious sing-along rocker, "Letter To Bowie Knife," to the eerie banjo and French lyrics of "Nom De Plume," to the sparse "Smash," to the rocking, orchestral-pop of "Deep Down," all the songs are linked by Burns's deft acoustic guitar and/or his full, always-impressive vocals. If Garden Ruin is any indication of the direction and growth of the band, Calexico is well on their way to reaching ears around the world.
JamBase | San Francisco
Go See Live Music!
|
